ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office on Thursday said Indian allegations coming 24 hours after the visit of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family were baseless, counterproductive and regrettable, and added the visit needed to be acknowledged if not appreciated.
In his marks at the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said the purpose of visit of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family to Islamabad on December 25 was to have a meeting with the detained Spy on humanitarian grounds which was successfully achieved despite all impediments.
The Spokesperson said the success of the meeting was evident by the fact that Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother thanked Pakistan after the visit. He said Indian allegations vitiated the atmosphere and could distort a goodwill gesture which could be better used for mutual good.
“It is essential to note that the humanitarian gesture does not obviate the fact that this was not an ordinary meeting between a mother and wife with their son and husband,” he said.
“The reality remains that Commander Jadhav is a convicted Indian terrorist and spy responsible for multiple deaths and destruction in Pakistan.”
Dr Faisal further said it had been agreed between both the Countries in advance through diplomatic channels that a comprehensive security check would be essential.
The Spokesperson said the visitors were treated with respect and dignity, and the cloth change and removal of jewelry/ornaments etc was purely for security reasons. He said it was explained to the visitors and the Indian Deputy High Commissioner that the shoe of Commander Jadhav’s wife was retained as it did not clear the security check.
“The Indian Deputy High Commissioner raised no objection at any point,” the Spokesperson said.
Moreover, he told the media that the meeting was not allowed to be conducted in Marathi due to security reasons, and there was nothing sinister in that. He said Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family spoke comfortably in English for about 40 minutes which was duly recorded.
“India was pre-informed that the meeting would be recorded,” he made it clear.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson also told that the mother was allowed to say a short prayer in Hindi/Marathi. He noted many routine airport security checks for ordinary people entailed removal of Christian crosses and Muslim veils.
“Trying to distort an agreed security check and attempting to portray it as a deliberate religious/cultural disrespect denotes bad faith and is regrettable,” he maintained.
Dr Faisal said Pakistan had been totally open and transparent throughout the meeting which was offered in good faith.
“Indian media is driving its policy,” he remarked.
“We should focus on the bigger positive outcome and not get bogged down in details or distortion of facts,” he added.
