Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet mother, wife in Pakistan jail on December 25

Jadhav's family members will be accompanied by a diplomat from Indian high commission in Islamabad.

File photo

NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Friday permitted Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and wife to meet him on December 25. His family members will be accompanied by a diplomat from Indian high commission in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter saying, "Govt of Pakistan has conveyed that they will give visa to mother and wife of #KulbhushanJadhav. I have spoken to Mrs. Avantika Jadhav, mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav and informed her about this."

Govt of Pakistan has conveyed that they will give visa to mother and wife of #KulbhushanJadhav. I have spoken to Mrs. Avantika Jadhav, mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav and informed her about this: EAM Sushma Swaraj (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/Ix6hWZrB2t — ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2017

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

Swaraj further said, "Earlier Pakistan had agreed to give visa only to the wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav. On this, we asked Pakistan to give visa to the mother as well. We also raised concern about their safety and security in Pakistan."

"We had also asked that a diplomatic officer of Indian High Commission should accompany them while they are in Pakistan. Pak has agreed to facilitate the visit of mother & wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav and assured us of their safety, security and freedom of movement in Pakistan", she added.

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 in 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.