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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Jadhav makes clemency appeal to the COAS: What will be his fate?

News Analysis |

Kulbushan Jadhav, the convicted Indian spy has appealed to COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa to overturn the death sentence awarded to him by a military court in April this year.

“Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav, the serving Indian Naval Officer who has been sentenced to death on charges of espionage, sabotage and terrorism has made a mercy petition to the Chief of Army Staff, “ said a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

ISPR added that Jadhav had exhausted his appeal to the Military Appellate Court and if the COAS rejects the petition he can turn to the President of Pakistan.  Concomitant to the press release the army released his second confessional video in which Jadhav dished out further details of his involvement in acts of terrorism inside Pakistan.

“In his plea, Commander Jadhav has admitted his involvement in espionage, terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan and expressed remorse at the resultant loss of many precious innocent lives and extensive damage to property due to his actions. Seeking forgiveness for his actions he has requested the Chief of Army Staff to spare his life on compassionate grounds,” the statement added.

Read more: ICJ has not taken a position against Pakistan on Yadhav: Yet!

ISPR added that Jadhav had exhausted his appeal to the Military Appellate Court and if the COAS rejects the petition he can turn to the President of Pakistan.  Concomitant to the press release the army released his second confessional video in which Jadhav dished out further details of his involvement in acts of terrorism inside Pakistan.

 

Yet another Vindication

Jadhav, in his “confession”, has said that one Anil Kumar “on behalf of R&AW” sponsored terrorist activities in Pakistan. These included provoking sectarian violence targeting Hazara and Shia citizens, particularly those traveling between Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan on pilgrimage.

The purpose of sponsoring various attacks in the region was so that “instability or some kind of fear is set into the mindsets of the people of Pakistan”, Jadhav said, saying that the high-profile assassination of Superintendent Police Chaudhry Aslam was an example of the kind of disturbance India wanted to create.

The spy said that “various financing which subsequently happened for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and various other Afghan anti-Pakistani terrorist groups led to the attack by TTP on one of the Mehran Naval Bases in which a lot of damage was a cost to the Pakistani Navy.”

According to Jadhav, R&AW also ‘directly sponsored’ the targeting of Frontier Works Organisation workers in Balochistan and sponsored Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks carried out by “Baloch sub-nationals” within Quetta, Turbat and various other cities of Balochistan.

Read more: The battle at Hague: Is India trapped in its self-woven net?

The spy said that “various financing which subsequently happened for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and various other Afghan anti-Pakistani terrorist groups led to the attack by TTP on one of the Mehran Naval Bases in which a lot of damage was a cost to the Pakistani Navy.”

Other attacks that Jadhav said were “funded and directly supported by Anil Kumar” included a “sort of radar installation attack, the Sui pipeline gas attack, then attacks on civilian bus stations where some, I suppose, Pakistani nationals were being targeted by sub-nationals and murdered and massacred” in order to cause disruptions in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“He wanted it to be raised to the next level so that complete disruption and complete stoppage of the CPEC between Gwadar and China is achieved,” Jadhav added.

Funding for these activities took place through hawala and hundi operations, Jadhav said, with finances moving from Delhi and Mumbai via Dubai into Pakistan.

A ‘military-style’ attack on the Pakistani consulate in Zahedan was also planned by R&AW officials along with Baloch insurgents, Jadhav added.

“The aim was to either attack it with a grenade or some kind of Rocket-Propelled Grenade or IED attack or then try to harm the consul-general or some kind of vicious attack on the Pakistani consulate in Zahedan,” he said.

Read more: Kulbhushan case very much alive: Pakistan vows to fightback at the…

Moreover,  he said, R&AW  had sponsored the creation of a new website for the Baloch movement in addition to handling an existing website “which was inciting people from within Pakistan for subversive activities  to be carried out in the future.”

Funding for these activities took place through hawala and hundi operations, Jadhav said, with finances moving from Delhi and Mumbai via Dubai into Pakistan.

“If an intelligence or an armed forces officer of this rank is arrested in another country, it is a big achievement,

Pakistan has time and again pointed out Indian involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan, but often its assertions are brushed aside. This video is his second confession and further exonerates Pakistan’s state position in India.  After being caught in the act last year through an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) Commander Jadhav confessed of his role in spreading terror in the country. He, under the auspices of R&AW, was planning, facilitating and abetting attacks in Balochistan and Karachi. As part of a larger scheme of things, he wanted to impede the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“His goal was to disrupt development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with Gwadar port as a special target. This is nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism… There can be no clearer evidence of Indian interference in Pakistan,” said Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, the head of the ISPR, last year.

“If an intelligence or an armed forces officer of this rank is arrested in another country, it is a big achievement,” he added.

The Hague Theatre

Tensions between India and Pakistan increased after Jadhav was awarded the death sentence. India’s resolve of leaving no stone unturned made it move the ICJ over the case.

The ICJ in its provisional  May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav and rejected India’s request to delay proceedings in Jadhav’s case until December.

The provisional measures of the ICJ  were welcomed with jubilation and have also led to high pitched vociferous statements against Pakistan. Pakistan is all set to fight it out at The Hague with new zest and zeal. A new legal team would be hired to prove that Jadhav is a terrorist who is involved in killing innocent people. An official said that Pakistan has all the evidence to give credence to the assertion.

The court rejected Pakistan’s argument that this case does not fall within the ambit of the ICJ. It established its jurisdiction and maintained that since the case violates one of the clauses of the Vienna Convention, the ICJ can very much hear the case.

“Pakistan should take all measures to ensure that Mr. Jadhav is not executed till the final decision of this court,” the court said last month.

The court also ordained  Pakistan to inform it of all measures taken in implementation of the order.

Read more: If Pakistan goes to the ICJ mala fide interests are at…

The provisional measures of the ICJ  were welcomed with jubilation and have also led to high pitched vociferous statements against Pakistan. Pakistan is all set to fight it out at The Hague with new zest and zeal. A new legal team would be hired to prove that Jadhav is a terrorist who is involved in killing innocent people. An official said that Pakistan has all the evidence to give credence to the assertion.

The case against him is crystal clear. We will make sure he gets what he deserves. We will fight till the end,” he said last month.

One that the ICJ has neither exonerated Jadhav nor have given consular access. It is little for Delhi to celebrate. Moreover, it is noteworthy to mention that Pakistan eked-out something which it wanted: multilateralism in conflict resolution.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan had submitted its reply to the ICJ under Article 36 of the United Nations Charter.

“In some issues, Pakistan does recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ. Jhadav’s case is related to Pakistan’s security. India is just twisting the facts and trying to give this case a humanitarian angle,” he said.

One that the ICJ has neither exonerated Jadhav nor have given consular access. It is little for Delhi to celebrate. Moreover, it is noteworthy to mention that Pakistan eked-out something which it wanted: multilateralism in conflict resolution.

Read more: ICJ verdict allows Pakistan to show the real Machiavellian India

The pressure mounts

After all the confessions and acknowledgments the general public is convinced of the fact that Jadhav has the blood of innocent Pakistanis on his hands.Not only people demand his execution but exposing and eliminating the Indian network is sought for.

The ball has reached the court of the Army Chief. The military has been lauded for taking on terrorism in the country. Accepting Jadhav’s mercy petition may go on to dent the image of the army, which was jolted a tad after the patch up on Dawn Leaks. It is less likely that Jadhav will be let off the hook.