Pakistan army has released a video of an arrested ex-Indian Navy officer purportedly "confessing" his "involvement" in terror activities in Balochistan at his country's behest. But the video was rubbished by India and alleged that, the person in the video could have been abducted from Iran. New Delhi also sought from Islamabad consular access to the Indian national.
Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, the head of Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and Pervez Rashid, Federal information minister held a press conference in Islamabad to release the video.
Speaking on the occasion, the officials said, Kul Bhoshan Yadav (Kulbhushan Jadhav) "confessed" to work for Indian intelligence agency RAW to "foment trouble" in the restive province of Balochistan.
Describing him as the Indian Navy officer, Pakistan recently arrested Jadhav. Indian government debunked the claim, which said, he had no link with the government, since his premature retirement from the Navy, but Bajwa claimed that Jadhav was still a serving officer, as his term will not be completed until 2022.
The press statement released by the external affairs ministry reads, “We have seen a video released by Pakistani authorities of a former Indian Naval officer, doing business in Iran, who is in Pakistani custody under unexplained circumstances.
The video has this individual making statements which have no basis in fact. That the individual claims to make the statements of his own free will not only challenges credulity but clearly indicates tutoring.”
“Government categorically rejects allegations that this individual was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan at our behest. Our enquiries reveal that he apparently was being harassed while operating a legitimate business from Iran.
“While we probe this aspect further, his presence now in Pakistan raises questions, including the possibility of his abduction from Iran. This would become clear only if we are given consular access to him and we urge the Government of Pakistan to respond immediately to our request,” it said.
Not stopping there, the statement further read, “It is also relevant to note here that despite our request, we have not been given consular access to an Indian national under detention in a foreign country, as is the accepted international practice. We are naturally concerned about his well-being in these circumstances.”
At a joint press conference with Rashid, Bajwa, referring to Jadhav’s case, accused India of carrying out "state-sponsored terrorism" in Pakistan.
Bajwa claimed that, there cannot be a clearer “evidence of Indian interference in Pakistan.”
The Pakistanis claimed that Jadhav had established a small business in Chabahar in Iran and had "directed" anti-Pakistan activities in Karachi and Balochistan. “He converted to Islam and worked at Gadani under the cover of a scrap dealer.”
By Phani Ch
