Govt plans to swap high-value Pakistani prisoner to save Kulbhushan Jadhav

Pakistan has denied all requests for consular access, MEA spokesperson said

As India-Pakistan ties remain heated with the neighbouring nation's latest step to impose death sentence on former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Union government is exploring all the options that can be taken to save Jadhav.

The government is planning to identify a “high-value” Pakistani prisoner in India’s custody and negotiate a trade-off, a report published in The Indian Express said.

Another option available for the government is to identify and negotiate on an issue in a manner that could benefit Pakistan. But, the report also suggests that some in the establishment have warned of the risk involved in getting into a “quid pro quo” situation on a bilateral issue. 

Besides, the government is also considering to take the judicial route by filing an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In this case, Jadhav’s family can file an appeal citing legal humanitarian right, the government can also do the same citing harm to an Indian citizen overseas.

The Indian Express report added that the government is preparing a list of individuals and organisations in Pakistan who could be approached for filing an appeal citing human rights violation.

In case international partners are involved, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval may communicate with his US counterpart H R McMaster. The American NSA is likely to meet Pakistan’s NSA Nasser Janjua.

The top officials from the National Security Council Secretariat and the ministries of external and home affairs have been directed to formulate India’s responses and prepare a dossier on Jadhav’s options. 

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Baglay on Thursday said that Pakistan has denied all requests for consular access and refused to share information on Jadhav 's whereabouts. 

"The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque. We are in touch with Pakistan through our high commission," Baglay said in the press conference.

The Pakistan Army is yet to specify a date for the death sentence to be executed.