India said on Tuesday that it regretted the way Pakistan conducted the meeting between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family, asserting that it violated the letter and spirit of understandings, and raised questions over the health and well being of the Indian national.
From the feedback we have received of the meeting, it appears that Jadhav was under considerable stress and speaking in an atmosphere of coercion.Ministry of External Affairs statement
The MEA statement came a day after Jadhav's mother and wife met him at the heavily guarded building of the Pakistani foreign office in Islamabad. There was a glass screen between Jadhav and his family during the entire meeting. They spoke through an intercom device.
The MEA said most of Jadhav's remarks were "clearly tutored" and designed to perpetuate the false narrative of his alleged activities in Pakistan.
His appearance also raises questions over his health and well being.MEA statement
Jadhav, who was captured in March, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying, an accusation that India has dismissed as concocted. The meeting – at the Pakistani foreign affairs ministry in Islamabad – took place after repeated requests by India for family access.
India’s Allegations Baseless, Says Pak
Pakistan on 26 December rejected as "baseless" India's contentions that Kulbhushan Jadhav's family was harassed and claimed that his wife's shoes were confiscated on security grounds as there was "something" in it.
The Foreign Office in a statement said that Pakistan does not wish to indulge in a "meaningless battle of words" and categorically rejects India's baseless "allegations and twists" about attitude of authorities during Jadhav's meeting with his wife and mother.
The Indian baseless allegations and twists, that come 24 hrs later, about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected. If Indian concerns were serious, the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them during the visit, with the media, which was readily available, but at a safe distance, as requested by India. We do not wish to indulge in a meaningless battle of words. Our openness and transparency belies these allegations.
Responding to India's contentions that Jadhav's wife's shoes were not returned to her after the meeting, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told DawnNews that the shoes were confiscated on "security grounds".
"There was something in the shoe (of Jadhav's wife)," Faisal told the daily, adding that the shoe is being investigated.
Sushma Swaraj Meets Jadhav’s Family
Earlier, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday met Jadhav’s family at her residence in New Delhi. Minister of State VK Singh, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, and MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry – after Jadhav’s meeting with his wife and mother on Monday – had released a video of Jadhav in which he can be heard thanking Pakistan for its “grand gesture”.
Harish Salve Concerned About Jadhav’s Mental Health
The circumstances of Jadhav’s meeting with his family were questioned by both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jadhav’s counsel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Harish Salve.
Salve, who argued Jadhav's case at the ICJ, said that he was disappointed with the meeting in Islamabad, and expressed concern over his mental well-being.
In an interview with Republic TV, Salve said:
It was as if he was inviting people to come and hang him, saying he deserved to be shot and asking them to speed up the process. I am seriously concerned about his mental well-being and the state of mind he is in.Harish Salve
BJP leader Tarun Vijay called Pakistan “savage” for Jadhav’s meeting with his family behind a glass screen.
Congress leader Manish Tewari urged the Indian government to bring Jadhav back.
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