Pakistan informs India consular access only for prisoners, not spies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday informed India that the consular access agreement between the two countries was for prisoners and did not include spies.

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale called on Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and sought consular access to Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Bambawale said he had filed an appeal in Jadhav’s case. “The appeal which was to be filed within 40 days, I have filed that today with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary. We want Kulbushan Jadhav to be released as soon as possible.”

During their meeting, Foreign Secretary Janjua informed the Indian High Commissioner that Pakistan had agreed to provide India with access to prisoners, not spies.

India cannot be given access to Kulbhushan Jadhav as he is a spy, Janjua emphasised during the meeting.

She added India was contacted but did not cooperate with Pakistan when the latter had asked to provide access to people connected with Jadhav.

This is despite the fact that Kulbushan admitted to being involved in espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan. "[His statements] are on record."

Pakistan has announced to sentence Jadhav to death for spying and instigate violence in Balochistan and Karachi.

The death sentence was confirmed by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and given by Field General Court Martial.

Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 through a counter-intelligence operation from Mashkel area of Balochistan.