Have concrete proof against Kulbushan Jadhav, says Pakistan foreign minister

India approached the International Court of Justice after a Pakistani military court gave death sentence to Kulbushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016 and tried for alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities.

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday that Pakistan has concrete proof against Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav, sentenced to death on charges of espionage, and will triumph at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

New Delhi has dismissed accusations against Kulbhushan Jadhav and said he is a former naval official who was kidnapped by Pakistani security officials from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business. (AFP/File Photo)

“Pakistan will present its stance effectively in the international court,” he told reporters in his home town of Multan.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan did not have a foreign minister for four years,” he said, referring to the handling of Jadhav’s case under the previous PML-N government.

In a related development, the ICJ will hold hearings in Jadhav’s case in February, Geo News channel reported. Citing its sources, the channel reported that the world court in The Hague is expected to hear the case during February 19-25.

India approached the ICJ after a Pakistani military court gave the death sentence to Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016 and tried for alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities. Pakistan contends that Jadhav is a serving naval official.

The ICJ stayed Jadhav’s execution till it decides the case. India made its written submissions to the ICJ in September 2017. Pakistan submitted its counter pleadings in December last year.

Pakistan has stated Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had allegedly entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage. The reply also said Jadhav does not fall under the purview of the Vienna Convention as he is a “serving” naval official.