Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday for a consular meeting with Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is being held on charges of espionage and terrorism.
According to sources, Ahluwalia first met with Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, and then Jadhav at a sub-jail.“Pursuant to the decision of the International Court of Justice, Pakistan provided consular access on September 2, 2019 to India for Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, Indian spy, serving Indian Naval officer and RAW operative,” read a statement from the FO.
“Gaurav Ahluwalia, Charge d’ Affaires of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, availed consular access, which was provided in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, ICJ verdict and the laws of Pakistan,” read the statement.
“Consular access was provided at 1200 hours and lasted for two hours, in the presence of officials of the Government of Pakistan,” the statement continued. “On Indian request, there was no restriction on the language of communication. In order to ensure transparency and in line with standard operating procedures, and as conveyed to the Indian side in advance, the access was recorded.A day earlier, Pakistan had announced that it would provide consular access to Jadhav in line with the Vienna Convention and the July 17 verdict of the International Court of Justice.
On Monday morning, a senior Indian government official confirmed the meeting. The official, while speaking to the AFP, said New Delhi hoped “Pakistan will ensure [the] right atmosphere so that the meeting is free, fair, meaningful and effective in keeping with the letter and spirit of the ICJ orders”.
Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said: “The Charge d’ Affaires, High Commission of India in Islamabad, met Shri Kulbhushan Jadhav today.
