New Delhi:
In major setback to Pakistan, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday granted India consular access to its citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on the charges of “espionage and terrorism”. The court also directed Pakistan to review the conviction and sentence of Jadhav. On March 3, 2016, Pakistan abducted the former Indian Navy official from Iran, triggering sharp reaction from India. The high profile case became a major bone of contention between India and Pakistan and New Delhi took the issue to the International Court of Justice. The ICJ took two years and two months to complete the proceedings and deliver its verdict in the case.
Below is the timeline of Kulbhushan Jadhav case
March 3, 2016: Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy official, is abducted by Pakistan from Iran. He had gone to the country on a business trip. Islamabad alleged that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan's Mashkel and was involved in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan on the behest of India.
March 25, 2016: Pakistan releases a propaganda video of Jadhav allegedly confessing to be a serving Indian Navy officer. India also comes out with a statement and denied Pakistan charges. In its statement, New Delhi says Jadhav was a former Navy official and demanded consular access to him.
April 8, 2016: Pakistan files an FIR against Jadhav in Counter-Terrorism Department Quetta. In the FIR, it was alleged that Jadhav was arrested while illegally crossing over to Balochistan.
April 10, 2017: In a closed trial in a military court, Jadhav was found guilty of espionage and awarded death sentenced. India terms the conviction of Jadhav a "pre-meditated murder".
May 08, 2017: India moves the International Court of Justice against Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of "egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations" by not allowing it to have access to its citizen. New Delhi told the ICJ that Pakistan didn’t follow basic protocols and Jadhav was not informed of his rights.
May 18, 2017: The ICJ stays Jadhav’s execution till the final judgment and asked both India and Pakistan to complete making their case by December 13. The ICJ also rejects Pakistan’s argument that the case doesn’t not come under the World Court’s jurisdiction.
September 2017: India tells the ICJ that Pakistan was violating the Vienna Convention by denying consular access to Jadhav.
December 25, 2017: After repeatedly denying consular access to Jadhav, Pakistan finally agrees to allow Jadhav’s wife and mother to meet her. India accuses Pakistan of harassing Jadhav’s mother and wife during their meeting with him in Islamabad.
July 2018: Both, India and Pakistan filed a second round of written statements. Pakistan also replies to India’s accusations that Jadhav was not getting treatment under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963.
February 19, 2019: ICJ begins a four-day public hearing. India asks the World Court to cancel Jadhav’s conviction by a Pakistani military court. This was the first official confrontation between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed.
July 4, 2019: The International Court of Justice issued a press release, informing that it will pronounce the final judgment in Kulbhushan Jadhav case on July 17.
July 17, 2019: In a major victory for India, the ICJ stays Kulbhushan Jadhav’s execution and directs Pakistan to review his conviction and sentence. The ICJ also granted India consular access to Jadhav. The United Nation’s top court, however, rejected India’s plea to release Jadhav.
