Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death: Pakistani media lauds decision to hang former Indian naval officer

In a dramatic move, a Pakistani military court sentenced Indian businessman Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on charges of espionage and sabotage. The Pakistan military’s public relations department confirmed the news on Twitter.

Indian R&AW agent #Kalbushan awarded death sentence through FGCM by Pakistan Army for espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/ltRPbfO30V

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 10, 2017

Pakistani media lauds decision Dawn, while reporting on the issue, called the move “rare” and cited defence experts as saying that the move to hand over death penalty to Jadhav was “unprecedented” and one which will send a strong message to India and other foreign intelligence agencies. “There are foreign elements involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan,” he claimed. “I believe this is a good decision,” Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti was quoted by the newspaper as saying. The publication also quoted a defence expert Ikram Sehgal as justifying the decision. “He (Jadhav) confessed his crime, he had people killed… After due process, his punishment should be carried out. They (India) will deny that he was not a spy, but he accepted that he was a spy. He gave full details in his confession of his networks as well,” Dawn quoted Sehgal as saying. Another publication, The Nation, claimed that justice has been served with the sentencing of Jadhav. “This is apt punishment for any spy involved in anti-Pakistan activities,” Salim Bokhari, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief was quoted as saying. On the other hand, the publication quoted defence expert Talat Masood as saying, “(Narendra) Modi government will react strongly and Pakistan government should be ready to face it." Here’s a timeline of events recorded since the former Indian naval officer’s arrest in March 2016.