Pakistan’s response to the ICJ awaited this month     

Pakistan has up to December 13 to submit its arguments to counter India’s submission to the International Court of Justice on Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Jadhav, a former commander in the Indian Navy, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for spying and subversive activities on behalf of Indian agency Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) in Balochistan.

His mercy petition is pending with the Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa. Pakistan, however, is yet to respond to India’s request that Jadhav be allowed to meet his mother, lawyers and officials from the Indian diplomatic mission in Pakistan. India’s request was made after Pakistan unilaterally offered to set up a meeting between Jadhav and his wife.

Described as a humanitarian gesture ‘in accordance with Islamic traditions’, the offer is widely believed to be designed to bolster Pakistan’s case before the ICJ. Knowledgeable circles believe that the International Court of Justice may take several months or even a year before commencing a hearing on the counter-memorial as Pakistan’s counter affidavit is termed in legal parlance.

The ICJ had earlier restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the case is disposed by the court. India had accused Pakistan of not granting consular access to Jadhav and thereby violating international law and the Vienna Convention. It had also alleged that Jadhav, after retirement from the Indian Navy had set up a business in Iran, from where he was abducted. Indian request for consular access has already been denied six times by Pakistan.