Expected response

The response from India in the wake of announcement of death sentence of RAW agent and serving Indian naval officer Commander Kulbhushan Yadav has been as expected. The neighboring country’s media, analysts and politicians have gone into overdrive in their anti-Pakistan vitriol. Indian Foreign Secretary Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit to protest the death sentence and labeled Pakistan Army’s announcement as ‘premeditated murder’. Also New Delhi announced that it was cancelling its earlier decision to release 12 Pakistani prisoners from Indian jails, who were supposed to return home on Tuesday after completing their jail sentence.
This was followed by statement from Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who ‘cautioned’ Pakistan saying ‘Pakistan government should consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter (Kulbhushan’s death sentence).’ Asserting that India will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Jadhav got justice, Swaraj said the former Navy officer (as claimed by India) was engaged in legitimate business in Iran when he was ‘abducted and taken’ to Pakistan. Swaraj said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by him.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy also spewed anti-Pakistan statements and commented that if Pakistan hangs Kulbhushan, then India must recognize Balochistan as an independent country. It is pertinent to mention here that last year even Indian Prime Minister Modi did not hide Indian’s interest to interfere inside Balochistan and on its independence day he commented on the situation inside Balochistan and asked the Indian media and his diplomats to highlight Pakistan’s policy inside Balochistan. Another absurd ‘suggestion’ by an Indian television analyst included ‘kidnapping’ some high profile retired Pakistani military officer in case they visit India & use them as bargaining chip for Kulbhushan’s release. The response from Pakistan to these provocative statements has been very measured and mature, something that the world community will also acknowledge.
The response from India to Kulbhushan’s sentence has once again highlighted its anti-Pakistan approach.