New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) India on Thursday sought “sovereign guarantee” from Pakistan on the safety and security of the wife and mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav - an Indian naval officer who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for espionage - if they get to visit him.


Islamabad has allowed Jadhav’s wife to visit him. However, India has sought permission for his mother to meet him.


At a media briefing here, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “We have conveyed that the wife of Mr Jadhav would like to travel along with her mother-in-law for the meeting. We have also sought sovereign guarantee from the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well being of the wife and the mother of Mr Jadhav and that they shall not be questioned, harassed or interrogated during their visit and stay in Pakistan.”


“We have further asked that a diplomat of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad shall be allowed to accompany them at all times, including during the meeting,” Mr Kumar added.


Further, the spokesperson said, “Let me underline that such a meeting offer does not absolve Pakistan of the violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Human Rights and not following the due process in treating Mr Jadhav who remains incarcerated in Pakistan and faces death sentence through a farcical process and on concocted charges.”


He said that New Delhi was hopeful that Islamabad would facilitate the visit by the wife and mother of Mr Jadhav. 'We are determined to pursue all measures with full vigour so as to secure the final release of an innocent Indian.'

Pakistan has yet not responded to India’s demand. The possible dates for the visit of wife and mother of Jadhav to Pakistan have also not been disclosed yet.


Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan on charges of espionage. Earlier this month, the Pakistan government had agreed to allow Mr Jadhav’s wife to meet him on “humanitarian grounds”.


“The Government of Pakistan has decided to arrange a meeting of Commander Kulbhushan Jhadav with his wife, in Pakistan, purely on humanitarian grounds,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal had said in a statement.


Last week, Pakistan had confirmed that it has received a response from India and it is under consideration.


UNI ASH RSA 1829