Kulbhushan Jadhav video, for ICJ eyes only?

New Delhi: Pakistan’s release of a second “confessional” video of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav on Thursday, and its statement that Mr Jadhav had filed a mercy petition with the Pakistan Army Chief — both of which were dismissed by India as “farcical” — seems cleverly intended to send a message to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that due process of law is being followed in Pakistan.

Islamabad also seems eager to drive home the point to the ICJ that Mr Jadhav is a terrorist. There is also a feeling that Pakistan has timed its action ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US to remind the Americans of Pakis-tan’s claim that India is also engaged in subversive acts in Pakistan, and that Islamabad alone could not be blamed for terrorism.

India has consistently rubbished Pakistan’s clai-ms of any involvement of either Mr Jadhav or New Delhi in carrying out any subversive act in Pakis-tan. Islamabad has consistently denied India consular access to Mr Jadhav, who is in Pakistani military captivity.

On May 18 2017, in a major victory for India, the ICJ at The Hague had barred Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the court pronounced its final decision in the case.

Close to midnight on Thursday, New Delhi had issued a detailed statement “in response to a query regarding the so-called confessional video of Mr Jadhav and a press release by Pakistan on the matter”, with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) saying, “The developme-nts bring out once again the lack of transparency and farcical nature of proceedings against Mr Jad-hav on concocted charges, continued violation of his legal and consular rights and an attempt to introduce prejudice in the proceedings in the Intern-ational Court of Justice (ICJ).”

Pakistan has never disclosed even to the ICJ Mr Jadhav’s purported appeal to a military tribunal in Pakistan and has effectively prevented his parents from pursuing the appeal and the petition filed by Mr Jadhav’s mother. The details and circumstances of the alleged mercy petition by Mr Jadhav are not clear and even the fact of its existence is doubtful, shrouded as the proceedings against Mr Jadhav have been in opacity.”

The MEA had added, “The Government has once again demanded earlier this week Consular Access to Mr. Jadhav and reiterated his family’s request for visas. Manufactured facts cannot alter the reality, and do not detract from the fact that Pakistan is in violation of its international obligation to India and Mr. Jadhav. We expect Pakistan to abide by the order of ICJ staying Mr Jadhav’s execution and desist from attempting to influence the ICJ proceedings through false propaganda. India is determined to pursue the matter in ICJ and is confident that justice will be done without being affected in any manner by these unwarranted and misleading steps taken by Pakistan.”