Pakistan announces death penalty for “Indian spy”

Indian authorities have rejected Pakistan's claims as diplomatic tension between the two countries escalates

Pakistani journalists watch a video showing Indian national Kulbhushan Yadav, arrested on suspicion of spying, during a press conference in Islamabad Source: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images

In an apparently unprecedented move, a military court in Pakistan has sentenced an “Indian spy” to death for “his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities” against the country.

Former Indian naval officer Kulbushan Sudhir Jadha was arrested in March 2016 from the Balochistan province.

“The spy has been tried through the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence,” a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan military, read.

Kulbushan Sudhir Jadha was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan, claims ISPR

It also claimed that Mr Jadha was an Indian RAW agent who confessed to all the charges levelled against him.

Pakistani journalists watch a video showing Indian national Kulbhushan Yadav, arrested on suspicion of spying, during a press conference in Islamabad Source: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images

“He confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impending the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi.”

Soon after Mr Jadha’s arrest last year, the ISPR released his “confessional video” that was widely circulated in the media.

The sentencing has initiated diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India.

Reacting to the news of death penalty, New Delhi summoned Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche.

Journalists view image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested in March during a press conference by Pakistan's Information Minister, in Islamabad Source: AP

"If the sentence is carried out the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder."

It maintains that Mr Jadhay is an India citizen who was “kidnapped” last year, and the Pakistani authorities did not give the Indian government access to him.

India has also termed the proceedings that led to Mr Jadhay’s sentence “farcical in the absence of any credible evidence.”

If the sentence is carried out, New Delhi warns, “the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder".

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