Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Baloch activist exposes Pakistan's claim

New Delhi: An extremely significant exclusive interview of Baloch activist Mehrab Sarjov has exposed Pakistan's direct hand in kidnapping Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Speaking to ABP News over video conferencing, Sarjov, who is the advisor to King of Kalat in Cardiff, said that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistan’s ISI from Chabahar in Iran and not from from Mashkel area of Balochistan. “My foreign Sources from both the sides of the border, Kulbhushan Jadhav was not on the Pakistan-occupied side of Balochistan at all. He was kidnapped from the Chabahar port which is in Iranian-controlled Balochistan. His kidnapping was kept a secret from the public and media by Pakistan,” Sarjov said. “Many observers believe his kidnapping has a political reason. One, Pakistan alleges India interferes in Balochistan but does not have any proof of it. Second, Pakistan was trying to put pressure on its neighbour. Pakistan is a master of deception. It wants to keep this 'limited war' against India as both sides do not want a full fledged war. India has to decide how to deal with Pakistan,” Mehrab further said “Pakistan has killed over 5,000 Baloch people. There are about 30,000 Baloch people who have disappeared.” He said it is time for India to put an end to the game of Pakistan as it should play according to their own rule. A Pakistani military court had awarded the death sentence to Jadhav. A statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's publicity wing, said Jadhav had confessed before a magistrate his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. The incident is expected to further deteriorate already strained Indo-Pak ties which were hit after deadly attacks in Pathankot and Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists last year.