The Spy Who Wasn't! Unravelling The Truth Behind Kulbhushan Jadhav's Abduction By Pakistan’s ISI

New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events, Mufti Shah Mir, a religious scholar with suspected links to Pakistan's ISI, who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadav, was brutally gunned down in Balochistan’s Turbat by unknown attackers. Mir, who has been gunned down in Pakistan, allegedly helped the ISI to kidnap Kulbhushan Jadhav in 2016, leading to his alleged false conviction. Jadhav’s case of kidnapping had sparked widespread outrage then, however, Mir had repeatedly denied allegations of any involvement.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was abducted by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on March 3 in 2016, from Iran, where he was operating a cargo business. The reasons behind his abduction are shrouded in controversy, with Pakistan accusing him of espionage, while others claim he was kidnapped.

According to Pakistan, Jadhav was working for India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), gathering intelligence and fueling separatist movements in Balochistan. Pakistan's claims were based on a video confession by Jadhav, which India dismissed as "false propaganda". India maintained that Jadhav was a retired naval officer who had no current links with the government.

The incident sparked a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan, with both countries engaging in a war of words. India accused Pakistan of denying consular access to Jadhav, despite several requests. Pakistan, on the other hand, claimed that Jadhav was tried and sentenced to death by a military court, following a fair trial.

Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy commander, remains at the centre of a high-stakes diplomatic row between India and Pakistan since his arrest in 2016. The former naval officer’s fate is the subject of intense speculation, with Pakistan accusing him of espionage and India denying any
wrongdoing. 

Also Read | Muslim Scholar Mufti Shah Mir, Who Helped Pak's ISI In Kidnapping Kulbhushan Jadhav, Shot Dead by Unknown Gunmen

Jadhav’s Arrest and Allegations

As per information, Jadhav was arrested in 2016, in Balochistan, by Pakistani security forces. Islamabad claimed that Jadhav, who was allegedly using the alias "Hussain Mubarak Patel”, was a serving Indian Navy officer working for India’s intelligence agency R&AW. Pakistan accused Jadhav of fueling sectarian violence in Balochistan and Karachi, and of providing financial and logistical support to Baloch separatists.

India's Response and Denial

On the other hand, India consistently denied Pakistan's allegations, stating that Jadhav retired from the Indian Navy in 2001 and was not involved in any intelligence operations. New Delhi claimed that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran by Pakistani agents, and that his subsequent trial and conviction were a sham.

Trial and Conviction

As per claims, Jadhav was tried in a military court in Pakistan, which found him guilty of espionage, sabotage, and terrorism. He was sentenced to death on April 10 in 2017. The trial is widely criticised by India and international human rights organisations, who argued that Jadhav was denied due process and that the trial was unfair.

Also Read | Who was Mufti Shah Mir, who helped Pak ISI kidnapping Kulbhushan Jadhav?

Family’s Fight For Justice

In May 2017, India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which stayed Jadhav's execution pending a final verdict. The ICJ ruled that Pakistan had violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by denying India consular access to Jadhav.

Meanwhile, Kulbhushan Jadhav's family have been fighting tirelessly for his release. In December 2017, they were allowed to meet Jadhav in Islamabad, but the meeting was tightly controlled by Pakistani authorities. India subsequently denounced Pakistan for its handling of the visit, stating that Jadhav's family was harassed and prevented from talking to him freely.

Current Status and Future Prospects

Jadhav's fate remains uncertain, with Pakistan yet to implement the ICJ's ruling. India continues to press for Jadhav's release, while Pakistan maintains that he is a spy who deserves to be punished. As the diplomatic standoff continues, Jadhav's family remains hopeful that he will be reunited with them soon.

Foreign experts believe that the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav is a complex and contentious one before the ICJ, with both India and Pakistan presenting competing narratives. The Jadhav case is just one aspect of the complex and volatile political situation of the region. Pakistan's relations with India have been strained for decades, with both countries locked in a bitter dispute over Kashmir.