India perplexed over spy’s death sentence

Letter April 14, 2017
Indian think tanks should now join hands to avoid embarrassment

RAWALPINDI: On April 10, Pakistan’s Field General Court Martial sentenced Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav to death over involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Karachi. Since his arrest in 2016, he has been known as Lawrence of Balochistan in the country, as an Indian Naval officer working for RAW. Caught by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, at the time Jhadav was working under the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel who had entered illegally near Chaman, from Pakistan’s border with Iran. He allegedly crossed the border several times to coordinate with Baloch insurgent groups and carry terror activities in Karachi.

Several days later of his arrest, a joint press conference was held with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Asim Bajwa and Information Minister Pervez Rashid. The conference included Jadhav’s confessional video statement where he admitted carrying terror activities in Balochistan and Karachi on behalf of RAW. In the subsequent months, several raids and search operations were conducted by security agencies on targets highlighted by Jadhav.

Pakistan has cornered India on this issue and New Delhi is left with few options. India has no solid trump card in its pocket on this matter. If India retaliates, most probably, by mounting unprovoked attacks at LoC or by demanding that Islamabad hand over Jadhav they will face international embarrassment. The other option is to remain silent and let go of the matter, disappointing their own serving Naval officer and accept the outcome. Either way, the ball isn’t in their court. Indian think tanks should now join hands to avoid embarrassment.

Saif Ali Hassan

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2017.

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