Pak's Sartaj Aziz had said there wasn't 'conclusive evidence' of Kulbhushan Jadhav as spy

Contrary to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's clarification that alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing was done according to the law, Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, in December, 2016, told members of the country's senate that there was insufficient evidence presented of Jadhav's alleged espionage.

"It is not that material has been provided and it is lacking in English and we are overcoming it. The material, in our view, was insufficient. What the dossier contained on Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav were mere statements. It did not have any conclusive evidence. Now, it is up to the concerned authorities how long they take to give us more matter on the agent," he had said.

 

Aziz offered the explanation in light of Pakistan's attempt to build international opinion against India for allegedly instigating separatism in Balochistan.

In his clarification earlier today, Asif asserted that if India raises the issue of Jadhav's death statement, Pakistan would give a reply.

"Jadhav's confession was a public document. He came from the approval of the Indian government.there is no doubt that India is fuelling terrorism in Pakistan," Geo News quoted Asif, as saying.

Asif also said the death sentence of Jadhav should serve as a warning to those engaged in terrorism in the country.

"Those plotting against Pakistan will not be spared," he said.

According to Asif, the entire world had acknowledged Pakistan's struggle against terrorism and the country was dealing with this menace from both the eastern and western front.

Earlier today, the Pakistan Military sentenced Jadhav to death, its media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

"The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Today Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the ISPR said.

Jadhav "confessed before a magistrate and court that he was tasked by Indian spy agency Research and Analysis wing to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan through impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for the restoration of peace in Balochistan and Karachi," the ISPR said.

Strongly reacting to this, India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not even informed about Jadhav's trial in the court.

The ministry added that the subsequent presence of Jadhav, who was kidnapped last year from Iran, has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities.

"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," an official statement read.

Earlier in March 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the former Indian naval officer was arrested by Pakistan for allegedly engaging in subversive activities was possibly kidnapped from Iran and denied any possibilities of him being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan.