ISLAMABAD: The Fore­ign Office has said Pak­is­­tan’s defence in the Kulbhu­shan Jadhav case at the Inter­na­tional Court of Jus­tice is sol­id and all Indian objections have been responded to.

“Our case against India, regarding Commander Kul­b­hu­shan Jadhav, at the ICJ is very strong. He was caught red-handed on our soil, being involved in espionage, subversive and terrorist activities,” FO spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said at the media briefing. The case is now headed for oral hearings, which are likely to take place next year.

India had last year approached the ICJ against Pakistan for allegedly violating Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by denying consular access to Jadhav immediately after his capture. Jadhav has been convicted on charges of espionage and sentenced to death. His mercy petition is lying pending with Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.

Responding to questions, Dr Faisal explained that Pakistan’s counter-memorial contained a “step-wise response” to all Indian objections in the case.

He said India had failed to respond to key issues raised by Pakistan, including those pertaining to his possession of a passport with the fake name of Hussein Mubarak Patel; his 17 travels out of India on that passport; and his retirement documentation to substantiate the claims that he was a retired officer and not a serving Navy officer as claimed by Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018