Islamabad assures safety of Kulbhushan Jadhav's kin during Pakistan visit

Pakistan has agreed to facilitate the visit of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother and his wife and also assured their safety, security and freedom of movement in the nation, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Friday.

"Pakistan has agreed to facilitate the visit of mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav and assured us of their safety, security and freedom of movement in Pakistan," Swaraj said in a tweet.

Earlier today, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal was quoted as saying that the Pakistan Government has decided to allow Jadhav meet his wife and mother on December 25.

Swaraj spoke to the former Indian Naval officer's mother Avantika Jadhav and informed her that the Pakistan Government will grant visas to both of them.

"I have spoken to Mrs. Avantika Jadhav mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav and informed her about this. Government of Pakistan has conveyed that they will give visa to the mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

She said that earlier, Pakistan had agreed to give visa only to the wife of Jadhav, but the Indian authorities asked them to grant visa to his mother as well.

"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," the minister tweeted.

Swaraj further revealed that India had also requested Pakistan that a diplomatic officer of Indian High Commission should accompany them while they are in the neighbouring country.

Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan, Pakistan, over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India's intelligence agency - the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan this year in April.

However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 18, 2017, stayed the hanging after India approached it against the death sentence.

India has appealed to the court to impose emergency measures for Jadhav's execution to be suspended until the legal battle in Hague concludes, while also accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide him with consular access and for being in breach of international human rights law.

To this end, India's written response was submitted to registrar Philippe Couvreur of the ICJ.

Pakistan will submit counter-memorial on or before December 13, 2017.

-ANI