Pakistan allows consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

Islamabad : One day after the International Court of Justice ordered consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan made an official announcement that he can get the same.

The world court, however, rejected remedies sought by India, including annulment of military court decision convicting Kulbhushan Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed confidence on the ICJ and claimed that Kulbhushan Jadhav will surely get justice. He tweeted, "We welcome today s verdict in the @CIJ_ICJ. Truth and justice have prevailed. Congratulations to the ICJ for a verdict based on extensive study of facts. I am sure Kulbhushan Jadhav will get justice. Our Government will always work for the safety and welfare of every Indian."

India’s counsel Harish Salve hailed the international court’s decision and expressed his gratitude for protecting the Indian national from being executed. "Want to start by expressing gratitude of my country to the ICJ for the manner in which it intervened in this case. It protected Kulbhushan Jadhav from being executed, in a hearing which was put together in a matter of days," Salve said while addressing a presser.

Soon after the verdict, the MEA also released a statement saying, "We note that the Court has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Shri Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with the Vienna Convention. We expect Pakistan to implement the directive immediately."

Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav, a retired Navy officer, within its borders on March 3, 2016.