India demands Pak release accused ‘spy’
India yesterday demanded that Pakistan release an alleged spy after the International Court of Justice called for a review of a death sentence against him.
The arch-rivals each declared victory after the world court ruling made late Wednesday. But with 49-year-old Kulbhushan Jadhav still held in secret, his case risked setting off new tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Jadhav, a former navy officer, "is in the illegal custody of Pakistan under fabricated charges" as he welcomed the court ruling.
"Yesterday's judgement is not only a vindication of India and Mr Jadhav but for all those who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of international conventions," the minister added.
Jaishankar insisted that Jadhav "is innocent of the charges levelled against him" and had been forced to confess without access to a lawyer.
"We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith."
The ICJ said Pakistan must give India consular access to the prisoner, give Jadhav proper representation and review the death sentence. But it rejected India's demand that Jadhav be freed.
Pakistan said Jadhav was detained in its southwestern province of Baluchistan in March 2016.
Indian officials say relatives reported that he appeared to have been tortured.
Relations between the neighbours frequently boil over. They have fought three wars since independence in 1947 and staged air battles on their border in February.
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