NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Wednesday granted visas to jailed Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother and wife, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The visas were granted by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for the pair to visit Islamabad.The neighboring country had on Saturday announced that it had received the visa applications and was processing them.
“Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal, the ministry’s spokesperson, had tweeted.
Earlier this month, Pakistan had given Jadhav’s mother and wife permission to meet him on December 25, in the presence of an Indian high commission official.
However, it has not responded to New Delhi’s request for a sovereign guarantee to ensure their safety and security during the visit. On December 13, Pakistan also rejected India’s request for consular access to Jadhav, claiming that New Delhi wants the information gathered by its “spy.”
The 47-year-old retired Indian Navy officer was arrested by Pakistani counter-terrorism officials in March 2016, after he was suspected of being involved in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi. A military court in April 2017 found him guilty of “espionage and sabotage” and sentenced him to death.