India has made another request to the Pakistan government to give it consular access to retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. However, Sartaj Aziz, adviser on Foreign Affairs to Pakistan Prime Minister, said Jadhav was given legal counsel.

The request was made on Friday during a meeting between Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, sources told BusinessLine .

India, apparently, also sought copies of the chargesheet and judgement given out by the Pakistani military court. It has also informed Pakistan that it will appeal the order after analysing the Pakistan Army Act, sources said.

So far, India has made 13 requests to Pakistan to gain access to Jadhav, who was arrested in March last year from Iran by Pakistani authorities. India has accused Pakistan of violating the law and international convention.

Meanwhile, in a strongly-worded statement issued on Friday, Aziz said that the Pakistani government had followed all processes according to the legal procedure, holding Jadhav responsible for “espionage, sabotage and terrorism” in Pakistan.

“Jhadav was provided with a legal counsel in accordance with provisions of our law. Jhadav confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by the Indian Intelligence Agency, RAW, to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aimed at destabilising and waging war against Pakistan. Kulbushan was involved in both espionage and terrorist/sabotage activities resulting in the loss of many lives and damage to property,” Aziz said.

According to him, Jadhav had “sponsored and directed” IEDs and grenade attacks in Gwadar and Turbat areas of Pakistan. He said Jadhav, who was involved in an attack on a radar station, was instrumental in an explosion in Quetta which resulted in casualties.

Aziz claimed Jadhav was a serving Commander of Indian Navy working with Indian intelligence agency RAW. He also said Jadhav had illegally crossed over to Pakistan from the Saravan border in Iran. He was, apparently, found in possession of a valid Indian passport and he has also confessed to being a resident of Mumbai and that his retirement is due in 2022.

Gopal Baglay, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, had stated on Thursday that India will do “everything it can” to bring justice to Jadhav.

He also said India was not aware of his exact location in Pakistan.

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