After the release of a controversial video of Indian spy arrested in Pakistan, it caused a widespread chaos across the two nation. The video claimed to be an actual interview record of a former naval officer, who confessed about his relations with Indian external agency. The mysterious case of Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav not only shook the world but also affected the mutual bilateral relation between India and Pakistan.

The story of Kulbushan Jadhav by Media

Kulbushan Jadhav was born in Sangli, Maharashtra on 16 September 1970. His parents are Sudhir and Avanti Jadhav. He joined NDA in 1987 and later commissioned into engineering branch of Indian Navy as an officer. Kulbushan has lived in Mumbai with his wife, son, and father. Sudhir Jadhav his father had retired as an Assistant Commissioner in Mumbai Police’s traffic department. Their neighbours knew about his business in Iran (as per the sources), but they were not regular at the social gathering. The father and son are a contrast to each other; Kulbushan is reserved by nature, on contrary, his father is a good talker.

Accused of espionage and sabotage in Pakistan province

The former Navy officer K.S Jadhav was charged with espionage and spying for Indian external intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) as per Pakistan’s media report. On the other hand, India recognises Kulbushan Jadhav as an Ex-Naval officer but denies the fact that he is still serving in Indian Navy and maintain on record that he took premature retirement to start off his own small cargo business in Chabar port of Iran. According to Pakistan report, Kulbushan Jadhav was born in Sangli, Maharashtra on 16 September 1970. His parents are Sudhir and Avanti Jadhav. Kulbushan made illegal entry to Balochistan via Iran with a fiddle identity (alias Hussain Mubarak Patel).

He was arrested on 3 March 2016 during a counter-terrorism operation in Balochistan. He was accused of running clandestine terror network within the province and participating in activities to cause unsettlement in the country. He was asked for gathering information and Intelligence for India. Pakistan allegedly claims that Kulbushan was involved in subversive activities in Karachi and Balochistan. Later, Jadhav was shifted to Islamabad for interrogation. Responding to the situation Indian embassy deny every charge claimed by Pakistan army and put forward their stance saying that the confession video has been doctored, according to officials Jadhav was arrest from Iran denying the claims forged by the Pakistan army. Indian intelligence officials suspect that an extremist radical group abducted Jadhav from the Iran–Pakistan border called Jaishul Adil.

India’s remark on allegations

India took an aggressive put on having words with Pakistan officials, as per report Pakistan consistently denied the consular access to Jadhav, which gives insulation of premeditating execution. India was denied access to Jadhav despite 13 requests in 13 months. Such secrecy from the Pakistan official gives rises to the question on whereabouts of Ex-Naval commander and his medical situation. Everyone knows how badly a spy treated in an enemy state.

The real question arises, Is Kulbushan Jadhav still alive or it is just a game plan to distract the heinous crime, which Pakistan had already committed.

Union Secretory and Bharatiya Janata party leader R.K Singh said, “Request for consular access and visa for his parents is basic human right and it should not be violated under any circumstances.” India provided ample evidence, which supports Kulbushan is not guilty.

Is Kulbushan Jadhav guilty?

Earlier, Kulbushan Jadhav was sentenced capital punishment by Field General court of Pakistan. To which, Ministry of external affair Minister Sushma Swaraj replied, “Our position on this matter is clear. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Shri Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan’s well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of premeditated murder.”

Home minister Rajnath Singh who condemned the verdict, telling the Lok Sabha that Pakistan had ignored “all norms of law and justice”, echoed her strong words. He assured the House that the government would do everything possible to get justice for Jadhav. Ministry is constantly seeking for the trade of charges and document, which support their verdict and should be available to the world, but so far, Pakistan officials have taken no initiative about this matter.

Kulbushan Jadhav case is still under observation; it is a very sensitive issue, if proven wrong, it may lead to deterioration of prestige, of either nation, on the international platform. Iran on the other side denied for any formal buttress due to nation’s self-interest policies. It is difficult to come to conclusion when we have the national interest at stake, whether Kulbushan is guilty or not but foremost he is an Indian citizen and government should try their best to rescue him from Pakistan.

The role of external agencies is hideous in eyes of common people and to some extent ratifies that national interest lies above all.

It is up to you what you think of Kulbushan Jadhav case? One can take his stand, based on the report or wait for our external agencies to reform confidentiality norms, which just seems unendurable.