India makes 15th appeal for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav

Gopal Baglay said the appeal was made by India's Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad

India made its 15th appeal to Pakistan for consular access to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, but Islamabad has not responded yet, a top official said on Thursday.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the appeal was made on Wednesday by India's Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad.

"We have appealed to Pakistan for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav 15 times. We will do everything to ensure justice," he said.

He said they are still waiting for a formal response from Pakistan to the demand of consular access to Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court, and details of the trial proceedings against him.

He also said the whereabouts of Jadhav are still not known.

"We are concerned about Jadhav's health and whereabouts," he said.

"Pakistan claims there have been legal proceedings against Kulbhushan Jadhav, If there have been, we would like to see them," he added.

Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer, was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. Pakistan has accused him of being a spy. India has made appeals for consular access to Jadhav 14 times but been denied every time.