New Delhi, August 2: India on Friday asked Pakistan to provide 'unimpeded' contact with the Indian national on death row of Kulbhushan Jhadav after Pakistan offered consular access in its current form. Also, the Indian has effectively turned down Pakistan's offer of conditional consular access.

Reverting back to Islamabad's conditional access offer on Jadhav, the Indian government ion asked the Pakistani side to 'provide unimpeded consular access' to Kulbhushan Jadhav 'in an environment free from the fear of intimidation and reprisal'. Among the condition imposed by Pakistan including the presence of Pakistani officials during a meeting between Jadhav and Indian officials and the use of audio and video devices to record the conversation. ICJ Verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: Highlights of Judgment Delivered By International Court of Justice

Informing more about the recent development, an Indian official said, as reported in the Hindustan Times, that the Indian side has asked for access that should also be 'in light of the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'. Earlier in July, Pakistan had violated Jadhav’s rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and sought a review of his death sentence.

It is to be known that those Indian officials were asked by Pakistan that they could meet Jadhav at 3 pm on Friday. This development took place as both the neighbour countries engaged in sensitive negotiations on consular access in view of the complex diplomatic and legal issues involved.

The Pakistani security agencies in Balochistan had arrested Jadhav in March 2016 and charged with involvement in spying and subversive activities. In April 2017, Pakistan announced he had been given the death sentence by a military court. However, the Indian government had claimed that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business.

The Indian government in May 2017 petitioned the ICJ, which stayed Jadhav’s execution, while on July 17, the ICJ said its stay of the death sentence should continue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 02, 2019 11:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).