["Former diplomats and security analysts say that such matters have been quietly resolved in the past, away from the public glare." (Source: The report at sl. I below.)
The demonstrative departure this time, as the "Top Comment" (which quite conveniently just ignores even the 1971 war, culminating in the birth of independent Bangladesh), in the ToI report at sl. II below, strongly suggests, has perhaps got more to do with with domestic politics than anything else, as had, arguably, been the case with the claimed "surgical strikes". Only difference is that while the "surgical strikes" were simply dismissed by Pakistan, on whose soil these were claimed to have been carried out, Sushma Swaraj's statement, in stark contrast, is an undeniable documented fact. Whether the outcome would be any different from that of the previous case is the moot point here. (In the three months post the surgical strike, there was a marginal dip in terror strikes. >From October 1 to December 31, MHA states that 87 terror incidents took place, which were 23 less from the earlier quarter. Source: <http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/terror-attacks-post-surgical-strike-decline-by-25-percent/1/909962.html>.)] I/III. https://in.news.yahoo.com/kulbhushan-jadhav-case-diplomatic-pressure-152000584.html Kulbhushan Jadhav case: diplomatic pressure may push Pakistan into a corner Catch News Catch News11 April 2017 Kulbhushan Jadhav case: diplomatic pressure may push Pakistan into a corner Pakistan could come under serious diplomatic pressure to explain the opaque processes which led to the death sentence to Indian businessman and former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court on Monday. There's a chance the matter could stretch on for a while, at least till Pakistan's powerful military leadership realises the possible fallout if it goes ahead with the execution. Swaraj's statement ***Former diplomats and security analysts say that such matters have been quietly resolved in the past, away from the public glare.*** [Emphasis added.] External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in her address to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, revealed how both the governments were in touch on the matter, and how, earlier this year, Pakistan had sought India's assistance in the case to obtain evidence and other materials for investigations. However, according to the minister, “in doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials who had no connection to this issue.” Three hours after the sentencing, Pakistan had again officially communicated with the Indian High Commission, with a proposal of conditional consular access. “That tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to an indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian,” Swaraj told Parliament. Swaraj said Jadhav had been sentenced on “concocted charges” and “if anything, is a victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well known record of sponsoring and supporting terror.” She warned Pakistan to “consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship” if it proceeds on this matter. Pushed into a corner The press release by ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistani military, announcing the death sentence to Jadhav, called him a R&AW operative engaged in espionage and sabotage. This had come as a shock to Indian security and diplomatic strategists. The Indian government has maintained that Jadhav is a former Navy officer working as a businessman in the Iranian port town of Chabahar, where he was abducted and taken to Pakistan. The Pakistani military leadership has been pushed into a corner not just by India, but also by other countries, including Afghanistan and Bangladesh, for its continued support to several terror groups. “This could be a way to divert attention from the issue,” says a former diplomat. “Till the time the military leadership doesn't decide to precipitate matters, there is hope,” another former diplomat says, while another points out how, in the past, several such spy games have been resolved by the way of quiet trade-offs. Asked if Kulbhushan Jadhav's case had got too much of media and international attention to be resolved quietly, the third diplomat said for now, very little was known about the case, but that there was clarity that the Vienna Convention on granting consular access was not observed. The Indian government had not been told of the competence of the defence counsel provided to Jadhav. “Pakistan will have to answer all of it,” he says. A security analyst points out how all hope is not dead, since Jadhav could go to appellate court against the death sentence. Even if the appeal doesn't lead to a favourable decision, he could approach the President of Pakistan for mercy. What happened in the past? There are several instances in the past where alleged spies have returned to India or have been pardoned by the Pakistani leadership. Sarjeet Singh was one such individual who returned after 30 years in 2012. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the then-Pakistani President, Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Similarly, Kashmir Singh, another alleged Indian spy, who spent 35 years in prison, was pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf. However, there are other instances too, like Sheikh Shamim, the alleged Indian spy who was hanged in 1999, or Sarabjit Singh, who despite having his death sentence commuted, was allegedly killed in jail by other inmates. India, on the other hand, has not executed any Pakistani national on charges of espionage. The alleged abduction of a former Pakistani Army official from the Nepalese town of Lumbini on Thursday has added another layer of mystery. Reports in the Pakistani press claim he could have been lured and abducted by the Indian agencies. There is speculation that the Pakistani Army leadership may have gone ahead with the sentencing on Jadhav to pre-empt any action against the former Pakistani officer, Mohammad Habib. For now, it seems like a long battle ahead for Jadhav and Indian diplomats. II/III. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sushma-swaraj-warns-pak-hang-jadhav-face-consequences/articleshow/58137319.cms Sushma Swaraj warns Pak: Hang Jadhav, face consequences TNN | Updated: Apr 12, 2017, 08.53 AM IST [Video: Sushma Swaraj reading out her subject statement in parliament] NEW DELHI: India issued a stern warning to Pakistan that it risks dire consequences if it carried out the "farcical" death sentence imposed by a military court on Indian national+ Kulbhushan Jadhav who it said was imprisoned on concocted charges of spying. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said in Parliament, even as MPs across political lines in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha condemned Pakistan for the kangaroo court justice meted out to Kulbhshan Jadhav+ . Asserting that India will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Jadhav got justice, Swaraj said the former Navy officer was engaged in legitimate business in Iran when he was "abducted and taken" to Pakistan. Swaraj said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by him. "If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," she said. Under these circumstances, India will have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of premeditated murder+ . "A senior Pakistani leader (Sartaj Aziz) has himself expressed doubts about the adequacy of evidence in this case," she said. The process adopted by the Pakistani military court "tells us a lot about the farcical nature of the alleged proceedings which have led to indefensible verdict against an innocent kidnapped Indian", she added. Urging the government to do its utmost to secure Jadhav's safe release, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said India must engage the best of lawyers to fight the case in the Pakistan Supreme Court. Pakistan will have to repent, says Antony Former defence minister A K Antony, in a rare intervention, said, "The entire nation is shocked. There will be serious repercussions. Pakistan will have to repent." Swaraj responded by saying engaging good lawyers was "a small matter" since India was prepared to do much more, including approaching the Pakistani president on the matter. "Whatever is necessary, we will do," she said, adding that Jadhav was "not only the son of his parents, but the son of India". Elaborating on the sequence of events, she said the Indian high commission in Islamabad had "continuously pressed" Pakistani authorities for consular access to Jadhav from the time "his abduction" came to light in March last year but to no avail in blatant violation of international laws and norms. Then, earlier this year, Pakistan government sought India's assistance to obtain evidence and other material for the investigation process. "In doing so, they levelled ridiculous charges against senior Indian officials, who had no connection to this issue. Top Comment First time in my life I have seen a tough government towards Pakistan. Great leaders. Chetram Sharma Thereafter, they linked providing consular access to our acceptance of their position," Swaraj said. "Nevertheless, in the hope that some forward movement could be made, our response was constructive. We pointed out that consular access to Jadhav would be an essential prerequisite in order to verify the facts and understand the circumstances of his presence in Pakistan," she said. III. http://zeenews.india.com/india/is-kulbhushan-jadhav-death-sentence-connected-with-missing-pak-army-ex-officer-in-nepal-1994991.html Is Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence connected with missing Pak Army ex-officer in Nepal? By Zee Media Bureau | Last Updated: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 14:04 New Delhi: As the news of the sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a Pakistan military court surfaced, many posts started to appear on the social media linking the development with the recent disappearance of a retired Pakistani Army officer from a town in Nepal near the Indian border. According to The Times of India, Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Habib Zahir went to Nepal on April 05 for a job interview. His family says that Zahir went missing from Lumbini, around 6 km from the Indian border, on April 06. Expectedly, the Pakistan media was quick to pin the blame for Zahir's missing on Indian intelligence agencies. The Dawn claimed in a report that the Indian spy agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) could have been behind the abduction of the retired officer. Indian authorities have, however, denied any knowledge about Habib, reported TOI. Also Read: Kulbhsuhan Jadhav death sentence: This is how Pakistani media reacted India Today said the Indian side believes Pakistan quickened the sentencing of Jadhav to “prompt India to declare its course of action vis-a-vis Lt Col Habib”. Pakistanis on social media, meanwhile, are blaming India for kidnapping Habib “to put pressure on Islamabad to release Kulbhushan Jadhav.” The news of the disappearance of Lt Col Habib surfaced on Sunday after media found the news circulating on WhatsApp groups. He was allegedly in Nepal for a job interview. He had flown from Lahore to Kathmandu on April 05 and flew to Lumbini the next day. As soon as he landed, he sent his picture to his family. His family and friends claimed that they could not get in touch with him after that. First Published: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 13:29 -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
