Pakistan says it has granted consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer sentenced to death for spying, following a decision this week by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The United Nations' top court, based in The Hague, ruled on July 17 that Pakistan should provide an "effective review" of the case and added that a "continued stay of execution" of Jadhav was needed for that to happen.
The court ruled that Pakistan had breached Jadhav's rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by not allowing Indian diplomats to visit him in jail or assist him during his trial at a military court.
"Pakistan will grant consular access to Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav according to Pakistani laws for which modalities are being worked out," Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a statement late on July 18.
Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, the scene of a decades-long conflict between security forces and separatists. He was convicted of planning espionage and sabotage and sentenced to death, sparking outrage in India.
India then appealed to the ICJ, arguing that Pakistan had violated Jadhav's rights by denying him access to consular officials, and won an injunction to stay Jadhav's execution.
Pakistan argued that based under a bilateral treaty between the nations it was not obligated to allow diplomatic assistance for people suspected of being spies or terrorists.
Pakistani considered the ICJ ruling a favorable outcome overall, as the court did not order the acquittal and release of Jadhav.
Pakistan Grants Consular Access To Alleged Indian Spy After ICJ Ruling
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
NATO Chief Rutte Tells RFE: 'Thoughtful Dialogue' Needed On Ukraine
2Ukraine's Long-Distance Drones Take Toll On Russia's Oil Business -- And War Chest
3Brawl Exposes Growing Anti-Chinese Sentiment In Kyrgyzstan
4Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker With 18 Crew Members
5Protests Erupt In Bulgaria Over Budget, Government 'Corruption'
6Polish PM Tusk Says Railway Explosion 'Act Of Sabotage'
7Brussels Adds New Names To Blacklist In Latest Russia Sanctions Package
8Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Hungarian Service Ceases Operations
9Tehran Pollution Hits 'Alarming' Level In Latest Environmental Crisis
10They Called Him 'Dr. Evil': The Russian Prison Medic Accused Of Torturing Ukrainian POWs
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.