India accuses Pakistan of "mischievous intent" behind Jadhav's family meeting
A day after meeting Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistani custody, his mother and wife met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi. Pakistan had allowed them to meet the alleged Indian spy after months of requests. "We honor our commitments," Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal had tweeted. However, the Indian Foreign Ministry accused Pakistan of "violat(ing) the letter and spirit of our understandings".
The case of Kulbhushan Jadhav
Jadhav, a Mumbai native, is believed to be a RAW agent. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Navy, he is said to have sought retirement in 2013. In March'16, Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan on charges of espionage and festering terrorism in Balochistan. It then sentenced him to death, but the order was stayed by the International Court of Justice.
Pakistan allowed the family meeting, but no consular access
Earlier this month, Pakistan finally agreed to a family meeting after India requested several times. Earlier, Swaraj had written a personal letter appealing to the Pakistan government for the family's visa approval. However, its 15 requests for consular access were turned down, which India claims is violation of the Vienna Convention. India's deputy high commissioner in Islamabad was present at the meeting though.
Indian media slams Pakistan for "inhuman" meeting
There was controversy in Indian media over how Pakistan handled the meeting. Jadhav and his family were separated by a glass wall, a move slammed as inhuman. His mother wasn't allowed to take inside the gift she had brought for him either, India Today reported.
The atmosphere was 'intimidating' for the family, India says
The MEA has now said the meeting "lacked any credibility". The Pakistani press "harassed" the family, whose "cultural and religious sensibilities were disregarded". They were asked to remove mangalsutra etc and made to change clothes "that was not warranted by security". They were even prevented from speaking in their mother tongue. His wife's shoes were never returned. The overall atmosphere was "intimidating", it said.
MEA raises questions on Jadhav's well being
The MEA also alleged Jadhav was "under considerable stress", his "remarks were tutored" and "his appearance raises questions of his well-being". Moreover, the family was taken for the meeting without even informing the Indian official accompanying them. When he finally joined them, he was separated by a partition. The exercise was "an attempt to bolster a false and unsubstantiated narrative of Jadhav's alleged activities".
