After the second consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for India turned out to be a non-starter, Pakistan offered another round of access to India claiming the meeting will happen this time without the presence of any Pakistan official. This third consular access offer was announced by Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a television interview. A note verbale was also sent to India saying Pakistan was willing to give “unhindered and uninterrupted” access to Jadhav.
India still weighing its options: Sources
While India was still weighing its options, sources sounded sceptical as they mentioned that Pakistan had earlier this week too offered unconditional access and despite that had not allowed Indian officials to engage Jadhav in private on his legal rights.
Indian officials last week refused to meet Jadhav in the presence of Pakistani spies with surveillance apparatus installed at the meeting place in the foreign office. Confirming the offer, foreign office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said this time, Pakistan has offered to give consular access without the presence of security personnel. “The Indian authorities have been formally informed about the decision and that their response is awaited,” the spokesperson said, adding that the offer was made as a goodwill gesture. A day earlier, Farooqui had claimed that two consular officers of the Indian high commission were provided “unimpeded and uninterrupted” consular access to Jadhav. She did not provide details about what exactly transpired in the meeting between Indian officials and Jadhav.
