All you need to know about the case of the 'R&AW officer' Pakistan claims it arrested

Even as India and Pakistan were last week working out the specifics of how a Pakistani joint investigation team would aid in the probe into the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Pakistan summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale on Friday and claimed the arrest of a serving Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer in Balochistan. 

The alleged R&AW officer, identified as Kulbushan Jadhav and originally said to be an in-service commander rank officer in the Indian Navy by Pakistani local media, was captured during a raid earlier last week, claimed Pakistani authorities. 
 

"The Indian High Commissioner was summoned by the Foreign Secretary today and through a demarche conveyed our protest and deep concern on the illegal entry into Pakistan by a R&AW officer and his involvement in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement on Friday.  

India admitted that the arrested man was an Indian national and a former Indian Navy officer.   

Since the news of his arrest broke out, the plot has only thickened as details about the case and the alleged spy have surfaced. 

Here is all that has transpired in the curious case of the 'R&AW officer' in Balochistan: 

1) How it all started: On March 25, Pakistani security forces in Balochistan on claimed the arrest of a man who they described as "a serving officer in the Indian Navy" who had been "deputed to the Indian intelligence agency R&AW", reported Pakistani daily Dawn. According to the same report, the alleged spy had been shifted to Islamabad "for interrogation". Dawn quoted a security official saying, "The spy had links with separatist elements in Balochistan." Additionally, the official said that the accused was "also involved in acts of sectarian terrorism and terror attacks in Karachi".

2) Accusations of Indian interference in Balochistan: Even as news of the alleged spy's arrest broke out, Dawn quoted Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on the case. Bugti said, "The arrest has proved Indian involvement in Balochistan."  

3) Sabotaging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): According to Pakistan's GeoTV, during preliminary investigations, the alleged spy "revealed that his main agenda was to sabotage the CPEC through propaganda...."

4) India rebuts: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup, according to The Indian Express, on Friday responded to Pakistani allegations and said that the Indian national arrested in Balochistan by Pakistani officials was a former Navy official but denied he was linked to the Government.  Furthermore, reacting to Pakistan's accusation that the alleged spy was involved in subversive activities in the province of Balochistan, Swarup said, “India has no interest in interfering in the internal matters of any country and firmly believes that a stable and peaceful Pakistan is in the interest of all in the region.” 

5) Seeking consular access: Even as the MEA categorically stated that the arrested individual had no links to the Government of India, Swarup informed the media that they would seek consular access. 

6) Innocent businessman or Indian spy: In a March 27 report, The Indian Express cited sources close to the alleged spy's Mumbai-based family and said that the man, now known as Kulbhushan Jadhav, was a businessman who "often travelled across the world". According to the report, Jadhav's family alleged that he was being “framed as part of a larger political conspiracy”. Jadhav last spoke to his family around three months ago, sources told The Indian Express. According to media reports, Jadhav, a 1991 commissioned Naval officer, retired in 2013. 

7) Son of a policeman: Jadhav, according to The Indian Express, has been identified as the son of Sudhir Jadhav, who retired as an assistant commissioner of police in Mumbai around eight years ago.

8) The plot thickens: According to media reports, Jadhav often carried cargo to and from Iranian ports bordering Pakistan. According to PIT, sources have said that there is "no proof that the retired navy officer, who owns a cargo business in Iran, was arrested in Balochistan" as claimed by Pakistan. Jadhav could have been arrested after he strayed into Pakistani waters and was being wrongly charged, the sources said, adding that it was a matter of investigation whether he had accidentally strayed into Pakistani waters or was "lured" there. 

9) Parrikar speaks:  Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that he has asked the MEA to extend all assistance and support required to Jadhav. Parrikar said, "We do agree, to the extent I know, that he is an Indian citizen and we have asked for consular access." Also, Parrikar said that he was concerned about Jadhav since he was a veteran.