New Delhi, September 12: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday issued a strongly-worded statement, calling upon Pakistan to full implement the recent verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. The global court had asked Islamabad to fully comply with the Vienna Convention on consular access for prisoners, the MEA pointed out. The statement came hours after Islamabad announced that it would not be granting second consular access to Jadhav, the former Indian Navy officer convicted of espionage by a Pakistan military court.

"The judgement of ICJ was in our favour. We will keep trying that judgement of ICJ is fully implemented. We would like to remain in touch with the Pakistani side through diplomatic channels," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

"These things are being discussed through diplomatic channels and that is where I would like to leave it at this point of time," he added. Earlier today, Islamabad said that there would be no second consular access to Jadhav, the retired Indian Navy officer who has been sentenced to death by a military court on the basis of extracted confession of "espionage and terrorism" following a closed trial in April 2017.

"There would be no second consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav," said Dr Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistan had first offered the consular access to Jadhav on August 2 but India had insisted that the consular access should be "effective and unhindered.

On September 2, India's Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan Gaurav Ahluwalia met Jadhav in the presence of Pakistani officials. It was a recorded meeting.After Pakistan announced in April 2017 that Jadhav has given death sentence by a military court, India moved the ICJ, rejecting Pakistan's allegations about Jadhav's involvement in spying and subversive activities.

The ICJ in July had asked Pakistan to comply with the Vienna Conventions and provide consular access to Jadhav and to ensure "effective review and reconsideration of his conviction and sentences". India has maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by from Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business. (With ANI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2019 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).