Kulbhushan Jadhav case not discussed in envoy-minister meeting: FO

Kulbhushan Jadhav case not discussed in envoy-minister meeting: FO

Islamabad (Staff Report): The Foreign Office has rejected reports that India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her introductory meeting with the Pakistani ambassador in Delhi Sohail Mahmood had called for Islamabad to review its position in convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case.

“During this interaction, no specific case came under discussion. Therefore, the reports appearing in the Indian media are speculative,” the FO said in response to reports about the meeting held earlier this week.

Pakistan’s High Commis­sioner to India Sohail Mahmood assumed the charge of his assignment last month. Therefore, the FO contended, the high commissioner’s meeting with the minister was a customary courtesy call.

India media had reported that during the meeting, Sushma Swaraj discussed the current state of affairs in bilateral relations with Mahmood, who officially took charge as Pakistan's envoy to India last month. She is believed to have asked Pakistan to review its position on Kulbhushan Jadhav, the ‘RAW’ agent who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court earlier this year.

She said that bilateral relations could only be proceed if Pakistan drops all charges against Jadhav and send him back to India, media sources reported. Jadhav's case is currently being heard by the International Court of Justice which earlier this year stayed his death sentence.