What is Pakistan trying to achieve via second Jadhav video?

India has completely dismissed Kulbhushan Jadhav’s so-called “second confessional video” as proof of his alleged involvement in “terrorism and espionage activities” in Pakistan, and asked Pakistan to desist from influencing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings through false propaganda.

However, the question arises as to what exactly Pakistan is up to by releasing another video, and the timing of it. Pakistani military, in March last year, had released a similar video which was the basis for a military court to pass death sentence to Jadhav. Of course, India was denied consular access more than a dozen times and it’s anyone’s guess as to the credibility of a “confession” of an imprisoned individual who has been denied basic human rights.

Pakistan did suffer a major setback when the ICJ asked it to halt Jadhav’s execution till its final decision on India’s petition to annul the death sentence.

So, having lost its face, is Pakistan trying to influence the ICJ through propaganda through this second video? Or, is it trying to use the second video of “admission of guilt” as an alibi to go ahead with Jadhav’s execution—notwithstanding the ICJ ruling? With Pakistan, one would never know.

Or, was this video just a propaganda so that the perception of Jadhav being a “spy and a terrorist” is strongly imprinted and later announce that something untowardly has happened to the Indian national, say, in a jail scuffle? That shouldn’t come as a surprise as something similar had happened to Indian national Sarabjeet Singh.

Perhaps, an optimist would opine that Pakistan may be preparing grounds for the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav. When the appeal would finally be sent to the Pakistan President, there may be a small window of opportunity of Pakistan trying to present itself as “magnanimous” by releasing a “self-admitted spy and terrorist”. Of course, it would seek its pound of flesh and it could be on the condition of a possible spy swap. Again, this could be wishful thinking.

The problem is Pakistan—to this day—continues to deny consular access to Jadhav and has not allowed the Indian government or his family members to even meet him.

“The developments bring out once again the lack of transparency and farcical nature of proceedings against Jadhav on concocted charges, continued violation of his legal and consular rights and an attempt to introduce prejudice in the proceedings in the ICJ,” Gopal Baglay, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement issued hours after video released by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claimed to be recorded in April 2017.

In the video, Jadhav purportedly admits to be a serving navy officer and an operative of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency.

“Manufactured facts cannot alter the reality, and do not detract from the fact that Pakistan is in violation of its international obligation to India and Mr Jadhav,” he said.

In a statement, ISPR has claimed that Kulbhushan Jadhav had filed a mercy petition with Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. In his plea, according to the statement, Jadhav has “admitted his involvement in espionage, terrorist and subversive activities” in Pakistan and “expressed remorse” at the resultant loss of lives and extensive damage to property.

The final resort possibly available to Jadhav would be an appeal to the Pakistan President. What has to be seen is whether this would matter at all.