Big: Forced to abide by ICJ verdict, Pakistan grants consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Read statement here

In yet another win for India, Pakistan, on late Thursday night, announced that it would grant consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav under the provision of Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In a statement released by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad informed that being pursuant to the decision of the ICJ, Jadhav has been informed of his rights under Article 36, Paragraph 1(b) of the Vienna Convention and will be granted the right to get in touch with Indian officials. It also added that Jadhav will be given consular access according to Pakistani laws. 

"Pursuant to the decision of the ICJ, Commander Kulbushan Jadhav has been informed of his rights under Article 36, Paragraph 1(b) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Pakistan will grant consular access to him according to Pakistani laws, for which modalities are being worked out," read the July 18 statement by the neighbouring country. 

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Earlier on Wednesday, India won a big battle at the ICJ at The Hague against Pakistan after the international court ruled in favour of India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. ICJ not only granted India consular access to him by a vote of 15:1 in favour of India, it also asked Pakistan to review and reconsider its conviction of the sentence of Jadhav.  

Earlier on Thursday, addressing a news briefing over the ICJ's judgement Kulbhushan Jadhav case, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said Pakistan would have to implement the ICJ verdict, adding that the verdict was binding, final and without appeal.

"The first paragraph states that the verdict is final, binding and without appeal. Pakistan is to inform Jadhav of his rights immediately and grant India consular access to him in accordance with the Vienna convention. We expect Pakistan to immediately act on the order," he had said.

What is the Kulbhushan Jadhav case?

Jadhav, 49, a retired navy officer was kidnapped by Pakistani authorities on March 3, 2016, from Iran, where he was carrying out his business operations post retirement. However, he was shown to have been arrested in Balochistan by Pakistan. India was informed about the arrest on March 25, 2016. He was sentenced to death by Pakistan military court alleging espionage in April 2017. Following the order by Pakistan's military court, India approached the ICJ and appealed against the arrest of Jadhav and over denial of consular access to him is in violation of provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.

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