India seeks sovereign guarantee from Pakistan on safety of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife: MEA

Pakistan has recently said that it will allow Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife to meet him purely on ''humanitarian grounds.''

New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday said that it wants the Pakistan government to guarantee the safety and security of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife if she visits the country to meet her husband.

''India seeks a sovereign guarantee from the Pakistan government on the safety and security of Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife if she visits the country to met her husband,'' MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said while addressing a press briefing here.

Reacting to Pakistan's announcement that Jadhav's wife will be allowed to meet him purely on ''humanitarian grounds'', the MEA official said, ''There was a long-standing request from the mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav to visit Pakistan and meet her son. Although this request was pending, India has still responded positively to the offer by Pakistan to arrange a meeting of Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife.''

In our response, we have conveyed that the wife of Jadhav would like to travel with her mother-in-law for the meeting. We have sought a sovereign guarantee from the Government of Pakistan to ensure safety, security of both, the MEA official said.

''Also, during their stay in Pakistan they should not be questioned or harassed, Kumar added.

Raveesh Kumar further stated that the Indian government has further demanded that a diplomat from Indian High Commission in Pakistan shall be allowed to accompany them at all times, including during their meeting with Jadhav. 

We are awaiting how Pakistan's reacts to the concerns raised by the Indian side, he added. 

Kulbhushan Jadhav – the alleged Indian spy – has been awarded a death sentence by a Pakistan military court on espionage charges. 

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested him from restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

Jadhav had filed an appeal with the Army chief to seek clemency, which is still pending.

After India approached the ICJ, a 10-member bench on May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case. Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India.

India has warned Pakistan of consequences and damage to bilateral ties if the "premeditated murder" was carried out.

In its application, India had also informed the ICJ that it learnt about the death sentence against Jadhav from a press release.

India acknowledges that Jadhav had served with the Indian Navy but denies that he has any connection with the government. It also alleged that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran.

India has also handed over to Pakistan an appeal by Jadhav's mother, initiating a process to get his conviction overturned.