Janjivan Bureau / New Delhi : A defiant Pakistan has rejected allegations levelled by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Parliament even as the war of words intensified over the meeting between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif responding to queries said ‘farfetched conspiracy theories’ were being advanced through Indian media about modalities of the visit.
“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 wife with their son and husband. 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,” said a formal statement.
On questions raised about change of attire and retention of the wife’s shoes, Asif stated a “comprehensive security check” was essential. “A metal chip has been found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed,” said the formal release, an accusation Swaraj had called “absurdity beyond measure” in the House.
Pakistan has also asked India to not distort “an agreed security check” and attempt to portray it as a “deliberate religious/cultural disrespect” on the issue of removal of mangalsutra, bindi and bangles.
