India demands immediate consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav: MEA

New Delhi [India], Dec. 8 (ANI): With Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz yesterday admitting that the government was presented with only insufficient evidence on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav who is under detention, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the government has always maintained that Pakistan's allegations against Jadhav, an Indian national and a former Indian Navy officer, were completely baseless and demands immediate consular access to him.

"We have seen conflicting media reports about this issue. This is a pattern we have seen in the past as well. Government has always maintained that Pakistan's allegations against Jadhav, an Indian national and a former Indian Navy officer, were completely baseless," said Vikas Swarup, MEA spokesperson, here during his weekly media briefing.

"Even after more than nine months of keeping him wrongfully and illegally in custody, the Pakistani authorities have not found a shred of evidence against him," he said.

"We demand immediate consular access to him in accordance with relevant international conventions and his earliest release from wrongful confinement. We have also sent eight Note Verbales to the Pakistan Foreign Office on this issue," Swarup added.

Addressing a full Senate chamber, Aziz said the dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements. He was quoted by a leading Pakistani news channel as saying that it did not have any conclusive evidence against Jadhav.

Aziz said it is up to the concerned authorities on how long they take to give more matter on the alleged agent.

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran, and has been accused by Pakistan of planning subversive activities in the country.

Pakistan Army had also released a confessional video of Jadhav, who purportedly said he was the serving Indian Navy officer.

India has acknowledged Jadhav as a retired Indian Navy officer, but denied the allegation that he was in any way connected to the government. (ANI)