India again asks Pakistan to provide consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April. /File Photo

NEW DELHI: India again asked Pakistan on Saturday to grant full and early consular access to its national Kulbhushan Jadav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April. India made its request as the two countries exchanged lists of prisoners lodged in each other’s jails. Pakistan’s list shows that 546 Indians, including 494 fishermen, are in its jails. ”India again requested Pakistan to grant full and early consular access to the Indian nationals lodged in the custody of Pakistan, including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadav,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in Delhi. In April this year, a Pakistani military court had sentenced Jadav, 46, to death on charges of espionage and sabotage activities. Pakistan says Jadhav was arrested on March 3 last year in its Balochistan province, which he entered from Iran. India had moved the International Court of Justice on May 8 against the death penalty, following which the ICJ had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till it hears the case for consular access. The lists of prisoners were exchanged in line with a bilateral agreement on consular access that was signed on May 21, 2008, under which India and Pakistan are to exchange lists on January 1 and July 1 every year. ”India once again requests Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of Indian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats whose nationality has been confirmed by India,” the MEA said. It said India remains committed to address on priority all humanitarian matters with Pakistan, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen. ”In this context, we await from Pakistan confirmation of nationality of those in India's custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation,” it said. The Pakistan foreign office said 219 Indian fishermen were released on January 6, adding that the country would release another 77 fishermen and one civilian on July 10. (With PTI inputs)