On humanitarian grounds Pakistan arranged meeting of convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife and mother at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Monday. Jadhav’s mother, Avanti, and wife, Chetankul arrived in Islamabad on the same day and went to Indian High Commission prior to meeting with Jadhav. It was commendable gesture by Pakistan, on Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday; it will convey the message to rest of the world that country is committed to provide human rights to everyone, including the foreign spy who was involved in anti-Pakistan activities.
On the request of Jadhav’s mother, authorities in Pakistan extended time of the meeting by ten more minutes and meeting was held for 40 minutes. The Foreign Office in a press briefing after the meeting, played video message from Jadhav thanking Pakistani government for permitting the meeting. The FO also issued medical reports that showed Jadhav is in good health. It was also told that it was not the last meeting of Jadhav with his family and such meetings would keep taking place.
Decision of letting family of Indian spy to meet with him, should have been enough to negate Indian concerns regarding treatment of Jhadav as per international human rights. It was being hoped that India would issue a statement of acknowledgment on the meeting. After a positive gesture from Pakistan, the onus was on India to reciprocate, but India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday roundly criticised the meeting, arranged by Pakistan as a goodwill gesture, and termed it as an ‘exercise that lacked any credibility’. After returning from Pakistan Jadhav’s wife and mother met with Indian officials at MEA in New Delhi and also held hours long meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. Later a statement was issues by India complaining that Pakistani side conducted the meeting in a manner which violated the letter and spirit of our understandings.
In spite of ruining the atmosphere of goodwill in which Pakistan allowed the meeting to take place, it would be best if same broadness is shown by Indian side. Mashal Malik wife of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasim Malik, who lives in Pakistan, while expressing her thoughts on the meeting asked Indian government to follow the footsteps of Pakistan in providing human rights to the people of held Kashmir. She maintained that Indian government is allegedly violating her husband’s rights by not letting him meet his family for the last three years. India should show similar values in areas where it has been accused of violations of rights.