Pakistan Defends Restrictions on Jadhav’s Mother and Sister

In a press conference, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry reportedly denied all charges levelled by India.

Kulbhushan Jadhav met his wife and mother in Pakistan on 25 December. 

(Photo: ANI)

Responding to the criticism from India regarding its handling of the meeting between former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and his wife and mother, Pakistan denied all the charges leveled against it.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif rejected Indian allegations and said that the meeting of Jadhav with his wife and mother on 25 December was permitted on humanitarian grounds. He said the meeting was initially scheduled for 30 minutes but was extended to 40 minutes on request and claimed Jadhav's mother had thanked Pakistan after the visit.

Pakistani authorities had sent the shoes worn by Jadhav's wife for forensic examination to determine the nature of the suspected presence of a foreign object, media reports said on Wednesday, 27 December.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal was quoted as saying that authorities had to ascertain whether the “metallic object” in the shoes was a camera or a recording chip.

India had earlier pointed out how the mother and sister were made to remove their bangles, mangalsutra and bindis for the meeting. According to reports, the family was also not allowed to speak with Jadhav in their native Marathi, but when his mother continued to speak in it, the two Pakistani officials present switched off her intercom.

Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had called the meeting a "propaganda tool" by Pakistan.

She said that due procedure had not been followed and the meeting began without the Deputy High Commissioner being present. Had he seen that the women were being asked to change their garments, he would have “registered a protest there and then,” Swaraj stated.

Had Informed India About Security Checks For Jadhav’s Mother and Wife: Pak

The Pakistan official said that the necessity of a comprehensive security was agreed between both countries, in advance, through diplomatic channels, adding that Jadhav's family members were treated with "respect and dignity" and the change of clothes and removal of jewellery and ornaments was purely for security reasons.

He said the visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting and all their belongings were returned to them before they left, though the wife's shoes were retained as they did not clear the security check because a "metal chip" was found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed.

Asif said Pakistan has been open and transparent throughout the meeting, offered in good faith.

We do not wish to indulge in fallacious accusations and blame game and should focus on the bigger positive outcome that the meeting happened, despite immense challenges and impediments, instead of distortion of facts and baseless propaganda, which vitiates the atmosphere and is counter- productive.

Later, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused the Indian media of shaping public opinion for its "nefarious designs".

Let me assure you that we can win any argument on this (Jadhav meeting), as we have all the paperwork and record with us. However, the intent and the purpose behind this gesture is very important and needs to be registered. Unfortunately, the visit has become more about the shoe and less about the meeting.

Spokesperson

He said that the Indian External Affairs Minister mentioned a Note Verble in her speech in the Indian Parliament.

"We will be responding to it shortly," the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Thursday, a press conference was also held by the official spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Asif Ghafoor, who spoke about the Jadhav meeting.

He asserted that the foreign office of Pakistan had informed India about the security checks that would be in place for Jadhav's mother and wife.

He was further quoted by Dawn as saying:

India always looks to reduce the relevance of any gestures that Pakistan makes. However, every effort that anti-Pakistan elements make, we will counter... We allowed Jadhav to meet his family as a responsible state – if we were irresponsible, we would have given in to Indian pressure and allowed consular access to him.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, official spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces