Islamabad: On Friday, Pakistan offered a third consular access to India for Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistani media reports on Friday said.
India on Friday had accused Pakistan for not permitting a free conversation between him and the consular officers and Jadhav was “visibly under stress”. Pakistan also did not give “unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional” access.
“The consular officers were not given unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional access to Jadhav. On the contrary, Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present in close proximity of Jadhav and consular officers despite the protests of the Indian side. It was also evident form a camera that was visible that the conversation with Jadhav was being recorded,” MEA statement read.
” Jadhav himself was visibly under stress and indicated that clearly to the consular officers. The arrangements did not permit a free conversation between them. The consular officers could not engage Jadhav on his legal rights and were prevented from obtaining his written consent for arranging his legal representation,” it added.
The statement said that despite Pakistan’s assurance of ensuring unhindered consular access to Jadhav, the environment and the arrangements of the meeting were not in accordance with the assurances of Islamabad.
In July last year, the ICJ had upheld India’s claim that Pakistan has committed an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations on several counts.
