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WHO IS KULBHUSHAN JADHAV


Kulbhushan Jadhav is an Indian national who is on the death row in Pakistan. He is accused of carrying out espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan at the behest of India's intelligence agency. India has denied the allegations.
 
Pakistan claims the former Indian Navy officer was arrested on March 3, 2016 in Balochistan. The Indian side, however, maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran, where he was running a business in the port city of Chabahar after a “premature retirement” from the Navy.
 
The execution was stayed by Pakistan after India filed an appeal against the judgement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 18, 2017. The Court pronounced its verdict in the case on July 17, 2019, rejecting India's appeal for Jadhav's release and ordered Pakistan to suspend the execution.
 
ICJ ruled that Pakistan will have to review the entire process of trial and conviction of Jadhav and provide India with consular access.
 
Following the order, Islamabad granted consular access to Jadhav. On September 2, 2019, Indian Charge d' Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia met Jadhav at a Pakistani sub-jail.
 
The "confession video"
 
Almost a month after his arrest, Pakistan released a video of Jadhav "confessing" to being a spy. The Ministry of External Affairs, however, rejected the video saying it was doctored and fake.
 
In the video, Jadhav said he had been directing various activities in Karachi and Balochistan and that he was still with the Indian Navy.
 
Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav?
 
Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was born in Sangli, Maharashtra, on April 16, 1970 to Sudhir and Avanti Jadhav. His father is a retired Mumbai Police officer.
 
Jadhav is married and has two children. His family resides in Mumbai.
 
Pakistan's claims and India's response
 
Pakistan claims that Jadhav entered Chabahar in 2003 with a fake passport that showed his name as Hussain Mubarak Patel. Pakistani officials claimed that his job was to destabilise Pakistan by strengthening a separatist movement in Balochistan and Karachi.
 
India has refuted the claims, saying Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he was running a business.

Chronology of events in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case:

March 3, 2016: The date Pakistan claims Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested

March 25, 2016: Pakistan informs India about the arrest

May 8, 2017: India moves ICJ against Pakistan

May 15, 2017: ICJ hears India's request for provisional measures. Pakistan asks the court to reject the request.

May 18, 2017: ICJ issues binding order to Pakistan asking it to take all measures to prevent the execution of Jadhav pending final judgment of the court. 

December 25, 2017: Jadhav meets his mother and wife after Pakistan allow them to see him.

February 18-21, 2019: Final hearings takes place in the ICJ

July 17, 2019:  ICJ rules Pakistan must review Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence

July 19, 2019: Pakistan grants consular access

September 2, 2019: Indian officials meet Jadhav in Pakistan

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