ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday categorically rejected his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj’s assertion on the visit of wife and mother of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, reminding her of the fact that Jadhav is a serving Indian Naval Officer and a convicted Indian terrorist and spy responsible for multiple deaths and destruction in Pakistan.

Responding to a query regarding the Indian External Affairs Minister’s statement in Rajya Sabha in which she criticized Pakistan for the strict security arrangements in place for the meeting between Jadhav and his family, the Foreign Minister revealed that a “metal chip” was found in one shoe, which is being analyzed.

“Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif categorically rejected all Indian allegations and stated that the meeting of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav was permitted on humanitarian grounds in line with Islamic teachings and traditions of compassion and grace,” the Foreign Minister said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office in response to Swaraj’s accusations.

In her statement to the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, Swaraj accused Pakistan of “disregarding the cultural and religious sensibilities of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family under the pretext of security precautions, including the removal of bangles and other ornaments as well as a change in attire and shoes.”

Referring to a hue and cry in the Indian media questioning the modalities of the visit, and advancing farfetched conspiracy theories about the change of clothes of the visitors, the retention of the shoe of the wife and the language in which the meeting was conducted, the Foreign Minister underscored that Pakistan’s humanitarian gesture did not obviate the fact that this was not an ordinary meeting between a mother and a wife with their son and husband, respectively.

“The reality remains that Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav is a serving Indian Naval Officer and a convicted Indian terrorist and spy responsible for multiple deaths and destruction in Pakistan,” he reminded to his Indian counterpart.

A comprehensive security check was, therefore, essential, he said, adding this was agreed between both countries, in advance, through diplomatic channels.

“The visitors were treated with respect and dignity. The change of clothes and removal of jewelry/ornaments, etc, was purely for security reasons. The visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting,” he said, adding that all their belongings were returned to them before they left.

“The wife’s shoes were retained as they did not clear the security check. A metal chip was found in one of the shoes, which is being analyzed,” he revealed.

He elaborated that many routine airport security checks for ordinary people entail removal of crosses and veils. “Trying to distort an agreed security check and attempting to portray it as a deliberate religious/cultural disrespect denotes bad faith and is regrettable,” he said, adding it is unfortunate that the frenzied Indian media is driving Indian politics.

The Foreign Minister further stated that the purpose of the visit was to have a meeting of Commander Jadhav with his wife and mother, which was successfully achieved despite all impediments. “This needs to be acknowledged,” he emphasized.

The Foreign Minister further stressed that Pakistan has been open and transparent throughout the meeting, offered in good faith. “We do not wish to indulge in fallacious accusations and blame game and should focus on the bigger positive outcome that the meeting happened, despite immense challenges and impediments, instead of distortion of facts and baseless propaganda, which vitiates the atmosphere and is counterproductive,” he added.

He said that the meeting initially scheduled for 30 minutes was extended to 40 minutes on their request. “The success of the meeting was evident by the fact that the mother [of Jadhav] thanked Pakistan after the visit,” he asserted.