The development has come a day after the Indian High Commission officials were provided consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan for the second time
NEW DELHI| Pakistan has offered consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for the third time. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi offered consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav without the presence of Pakistani officials. The development has come a day after the Indian High Commission officials were provided consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan for the second time.
After meeting Kulbhushan Jadhav, India accused Pakistan of violating an international tribunal’s verdict by not providing “unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional” access of Kulbhushan Jadhav. India also said Kulbhushan Jadhav was “visibly under stress”.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said on Friday that two Indian officials from the Indian High Commission who were allowed to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav lodged a protest as the consular access provided by Pakistan was “neither meaningful nor credible”.
Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present in close proximity and the arrangements did not permit free conversation, India said on Thursday.
The MEA spokesperson said, “Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present in close proximity of Jadhav and consular officers despite the protests of the Indian side. It was also evident from a camera that was visible that the conversation with Jadhav was being recorded.”
Pakistan had provided the second consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav after holding extensive discussions with India.
“Kulbhushan Jadhav himself was visibly under stress and indicated that clearly to the consular officers. The arrangements did not permit a free conversation between them. The consular officers could not engage Jadhav on his legal rights and were prevented from obtaining his written consent for arranging his legal representation,” the MEA spokesperson said.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
