The International Court of Justice had ordered for a review of the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav in light of the fact that Pakistan had been breaching the Vienna Convention.
Islamabad has asserted its plans of using a diplomat from another nation to seek assistance on the release of Jhadhav from Pakistani custody on the condition that the Indian government admits that Jhadhav was engaged in espionage. Jadhav is presently held in an Inter-Services Intelligence in the city of Rawalpindi instead of a prison. He is awaiting his execution.
It is to be noted that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a former Navy Officer who had allegedly been abducted by Pakistani intelligence from Iran and subsequently sentenced to death on the charges of espionage and terrorist intention by Pakistan’s military court.
After India sought the help of the ICJ, a ruling by them has asserted that Mr. Jadhav cannot be executed by Pakistan and he must be given adequate consular access and a fair trial. The ruling also asks Pakistan to review the conviction that it had issued. This is being viewed as a major victory for India.
This implies that Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence would remain suspended till the time Pakistan has reviewed and reconsidered it decision regarding Jadhav’s conviction.
While it may be too early to assume that Kulbhushan Jadhav could return back to his country soon, there is however a ray of hope that India’s strategic decision proved helpful as the UN Court has agreed that Pakitan had violated the Vienna Convention by denying consular access to Jadhav. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi welcomed the judgement.
