India accuses Pakistan of harassing Kulbhushan Jadhav's family

The spy met his mother and wife Monday in Islamabad, their first meeting since his arrest from Balochistan last year

NEW DELHI: India accused Pakistan on Tuesday of harassing the family of self confessed spy on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav, saying their meeting was held in an "atmosphere of coercion".

Jadhav met his mother and wife in Islamabad on Monday, their first meeting since his arrest from Balochistan last year on charges of espionage and terrorism.

"It appears that Jadhav was under considerable stress and speaking in an atmosphere of coercion," the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after top Indian officials debriefed his family in New Delhi.

The ministry alleged that Jadhav's conversation during the meeting was "tutored and designed to perpetuate the false narrative of his alleged activities in Pakistan."

Jadhav had confessed to spying for Indian intelligence, with Pakistan describing him as "the face of Indian terrorism" in the country.

He was found guilty in a closed trial by a military court and sentenced to death on charges of espionage and terrorism.

India took the case to the International Court of Justice which suspended his execution until it passes final judgement in the case.



Pictures released by the government on Monday showed Jadhav and his family speaking through a glass barrier at the foreign ministry.

An Indian diplomat was present during the meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, but was not allowed to talk to the prisoner or listen to the conversation with his family.

New Delhi said Pakistan disrespected the cultural and religious sensibilities of Jadhav's family, alleging they were asked to change their clothes, and that his wife was ordered to remove her "mangal sutra" -- a necklace worn by married Hindu women.

The Indian foreign ministry added that Pakistani authorities did not return the shoes Jadhav's wife was ordered to remove.

It also accused Islamabad of allowing local journalists to "harass and hector" the Jadhav family, violating an understanding between Islamabad and New Delhi to not allow the media "close" access.

India also raised concerns over Jadhav's health, although he was seen sitting up in the grainy pictures. Pakistani officials said he was in good health.

The nuclear-armed neighbours routinely accuse one another of sending spies into their countries.

Jadhav joined India's prestigious National Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as an engineer in the Indian Navy in 1991 before reportedly starting a business in Iran.