Pakistan Violated Understanding On Jadhav-Family Meet, Allowed Its Media To Harass Wife And Mother

In a statement issued after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s meeting with Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife and mother, who went to Islamabad on Monday to meet the Indian national kidnapped and illegally detained by Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that Pakistan violated the understanding reached between the two countries regarding the meeting.

According to the MEA, Pakistan let its media approach family members closely, allowing it to “harass and hector them and hurl false and motivated accusations about Shri Jadhav". Pakistan had agreed not to let media approach the family.

“The Pakistani press was allowed on multiple occasions to approach family members closely, harass and hector them and hurl false and motivated accusations about Shri Jadhav. This was despite a clear agreement that the media would not be allowed close access,” the MEA’s statement read.

Among other things, Jadhav’s mother was prevented from talking in her native language and was repeatedly interrupted. The women were forced to remove mangal sutra, bangles and bindi, and were asked to change in attire that was not warranted by security. Pakistani authorities also refused to return shoes of Jadhav’s wife after the meeting.

“For some inexplicable reason, despite her repeated requests, the shoes of the wife of Shri Jadhav were not returned to her after the meeting. We would caution against any mischievous intent in this regard,” the MEA said.

“We also regret that contrary to assurances, the overall atmosphere of the meeting was intimidating insofar as family members were concerned. Family members, however, handled the situation with great courage and fortitude,” it added.

Violating the terms of the agreement, Pakistan separated the family from India’s Deputy High Commissioner allowed by Islamabad to accompany the family members, and they were taken to the meeting room without informing him.

"The deputy high commissioner was initially separated from family members who were taken to the meeting without informing him. The meeting was started without his presence and he could join only after pressing the matter with concerned officials. Even then, he was kept behind an additional partition that did not allow him access to the meeting as agreed," said the MEA.