Pakistan grants India ‘spy’ visit

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan granted consular access to an alleged Indian spy on death row Monday, sparking claims from New Delhi that the prisoner was under “extreme pressure” and unable to speak freely during the meeting.

The consular visit comes weeks after the International Court of Justice in July ordered Islamabad to provide the prisoner and alleged spy — Kulbhushan Jadhav — with consular access but rejected India’s demand he be freed.

“While we await a comprehensive report, it was clear that Shri Jadhav appeared to be under extreme pressure to parrot a false narrative to bolster Pakistan’s untenable claims,” said India’s foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar in a statement.

The spokesman added that India would decide its next moves after receiving a detailed report from its deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan Gaurav Ahluwalia who met with Jadhav.

“The government remains committed to continue to work towards ensuring that Shri Jadhav receives justice at the earliest and returns safely to India,” Kumar added, using a common Indian honorific.

Pakistan officials, however, said they provided “un-impeded, uninterrupted consular access to India to Commander Jadhav” during a two-hour meeting in the presence of Pakistani authorities, according to a statement issued late Monday by the foreign ministry.