ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army’s top brass on Thursday after a discussion on the sentence of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, decided that there would be no compromise on anti-state elements in the future as well.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Bajwa presided over the corps commanders conference at General Headquarters where the participants were briefed on Jadhav, the RAW spy sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial earlier this week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.
Participants of the meeting reviewed the national security environment and recent developments in the region as well as progress on Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad – a nationwide campaign aimed at eliminating the residual threat of terrorism that was launched in February after a deadly attack at a holy shrine in Sehwan.
The provision of support to the government for the ongoing population census was also reviewed. The COAS praised the formations, intelligence agencies and law enforcers for their successful execution of operations, ISPR added.
Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan’s Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.
Although the convict had been provided with a defending officer as per legal provisions, according to ISPR, Pakistan had turned down India’s request seeking consular access to Jadhav last year due to his involvement in subversive activities in the country.
Jadhav was tried by the FGCM under Section 59 of the PAA and Section 3 of the official Secret Act of 1923, the statement revealed.
Jadhav confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan through impeding the efforts of law enforcers for the restoration of peace in Balochistan and Karachi, according to the ISPR.
Following the sentence announcement, India summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit on Monday and handed over a demarche saying, “If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder.”
Jadhav now has 40 days to file an appeal against the FGCM in the army’s court of appeal.
In case the appeal court upholds the FGCM verdict, Jadhav would have the opportunity to seek mercy from the army chief and the president of Pakistan.
Experts view the military’s announcement about Jadhav’s trial and prosecution as an unprecedented move, viewing it as a strong message to India as well as other foreign intelligence agencies.
