Former diplomats say ball in Pakistan’s court after ICJ verdict

New Delhi, July 17 (IANS) Former diplomats on Wednesday hailed the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav and termed it a vindication of India's stand.

In a huge victory for India, the ICJ on Wednesday ordered Pakistan not to execute Jadhav and asked it to reconsider the sentence awarded to him by a military court.

The world court also directed Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav, while holding that it had "breached" the Vienna Convention in this regard by denying him this right.

"It is a major judicial victory. Pakistan had behaved in a totally unacceptable manner and in violation of not only international laws, but also natural justice. The judgment vindicates India's position," said P.S. Raghavan, former Indian ambassador to Russia, Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Speaking to IANS, many former diplomats said that it remains to be seen as to what action Pakistan takes on the judgment.

"Pakistan cannot have a civil court trial because of its own internal political structure. In Pakistan, the army is above all civil authorities as well as the judiciary. If it goes to a civilian court nevertheless, its lies will be exposed because of lack of evidence against Jadhav.

"The ICJ has directed Pakistan to abide by its own commitment to various international treaties. The ball is in Pakistan's court in deciding as to how it would implement the judgment," said Dilip Sinha, former UN permanent representative of India.

"It was a strong case and we have won. We have to see if Pakistan follows the judgment in detail," said Mohan Kumar, former Indian ambassador to France.

Jadhav, an Indian naval officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April 2017 for alleged espionage. India had approached the ICJ to stay the execution.