Kulbhushan Jadhav case: ‘Pakistan misusing UN court as propaganda tool,’ argues India at ICJ
Amid fresh tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pulwama attack, the public hearings in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case began in International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague. Harish Salve representing India at the top court argued Pakistan is using UN court for propoganda.
#WATCH: Harish Salve representing India & Kulbhushan Jadhav in ICJ says, "Jadhav's continued custody without consular access should be declared unlawful." pic.twitter.com/aAGeEAEGrT
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
Harish Salve representing India & Kulbhushan Jadhav in ICJ argued, "It is an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention." "There is no manner of doubt that Pakistan was using this as a propaganda tool. Pakistan was bound to grant consular access without delay," Salve added.
Kulbhushan Jadhav was held in Balochistan in 2016 and sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage. While the Pakistan claims that Jadhav is an Indian spy, India maintains that he is a retired Navy official who was kidnapped.
Harish Salve representing India & Kulbhushan Jadhav in ICJ: On 30th March 2016, India reminded Pakistan of its request of consular access (for Jadhav) & received no reply. 13 reminders were sent by India on various dates pic.twitter.com/NpU8g7JjWf
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
"On 19th June, 2017, India responded to the request for assistance in investigation & pointed that not only Jadhav had been denied consular access but no credible evidence have been provided by Pakistan to show his involvement in any act of terrorism," Salve argued.
"Jadhav's purported confession clearly appears to be coaxed. India reminded Pakistan that it's Pakistan government which hasn't ratified SAARC convention on legal assistance in criminal matters, he added.
Harish Salve also argued on how Pakistan insulted India and Jadhav's family after allowing them to visit him. "The meeting was held on 25th December 2017. India was dismayed at the manner the meeting with Jadhav's family was conducted & wrote a letter on 27 December marking its protest," he presented his resoning.
Harish Salve in ICJ argued that Pakistan should give proper explanation why it need 3 months for providing consular access, for providing consular access. "Pakistan should've provided a substantial explanation for why it needed 3 months for providing consular access, upon which it could've claimed that it has complied with treaty obligation. Even on erroneous premise that para 4 applies, Pakistan hasn't complied treaty obligations." Salve argued.
The hearing in the Kulbhushan Jadhav's case continue from February 18 to February 21, 2019. Pakistan’s Attorney General Anwar Mansoor is leading the Pakistani delegation at the ICJ.
First published: 18 February 2019, 15:31 IST