Pakistan Refutes Allegations, Says Jadhav's Trial was 'Transparent'

New Delhi: Refuting allegations surrounding Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing, Pakistan on Thursday said that military court's ruling was based on specific evidence and the trial was conducted in a "transparent" manner.

This came a day after India handed over an appeal by the Jadhav’s mother to the appellate court to get his conviction overturned.

Zakaria's remarks at a briefing came a day after the appeal was given to Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale, who also handed over a petition by Jadhav's mother seeking the Pakistan government's intervention for his release and expressing the desire to meet him.

Jadhav was given death sentence earlier this month, evoking a sharp reaction in India which warned Pakistan of consequences and damage to bilateral ties if the "pre- meditated murder" was carried out.

Zakaria said that India's role in "sponsoring terrorism" in Pakistan was "fully exposed" in light of the statements of Jadhav and former Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.

"The revelations made by former spokesperson of TTP, Ehsansullah Ehsan, and the confessional statement of Kulbhushan Jadhav are irrefutable proofs against India," he said.

Zakaria claimed that India was not only sending spies inside Pakistan to "perpetrate terrorism" but also using the Afghan soil to "destabilise" the country. He also claimed that as many as 13 Indian "RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agents" were killed in the 'mother of all bombs' attack carried out by the US in Afghanistan earlier this month. He said this had vindicated Pakistan's claims.

On the disappearance of retired Pakistani colonel Habib Zahir in Nepal, the spokesperson said Pakistan's mission in the country was closely looking into the matter. He said it was a case of entrapment and the involvement of India cannot be ruled out.

Jadhav was arrested reportedly from Balochistan after he entered from Iran in March 2016. He was accused by Pakistan of being a "R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent” and planning "subversive activities" in the country.

India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied that he was in any way connected to the government. The government believes that he was picked up from Iran.

Earlier this year, Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz had ruled out any possibility of extraditing Jadhav back to India. Aziz told the Senate that Pakistan never said there was any lack of evidence against him. "We have filed an FIR and prepared a case to prosecute Indian state actor for his subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan," he said.

Aziz had said Islamabad had shared a dossier with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on New Delhi's involvement in internal affairs of Pakistan, and in subversive and terrorist activities in the country.