The real reason why Pakistan arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav

Pakistan decided on Monday to go ahead and hang, Kulbhushan Jadhav, an alleged Indian spy. India said repeatedly when Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016 that it was a case of mistaken identity. The arrest of Jadhav came at a crucial time when India wanted action on the Pathankot attackers.

After the attack at Pathankot, India had sought stringent action against the founder of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Maulana Masood Azhar. India had even allowed a team from Pakistan to visit the air base to investigate into the case. However Pakistan refused to reciprocate and did not give the NIA a date and time to visit the country and questioned the accused in the case.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Pakistan a week before the attack. It was a well appreciated gesture by leaders from across the world. It appeared as though the talks between the two countries were being set on the right path. However the Pakistan's ISI and military then under General Raheel Sharrif were unhappy about the bonhomie. The first attempt to derail the talks was done in the form of the Pathankot attack.

India however decided that it would continue to talk and sought Pakistan's help to investigate the case. Although relations between the two countries were shaken, the two NSAs continued to talk.
It was decided that any bi-lateral would be held after Pakistan takes some action on the Pathankot attackers. India's NSA Ajit Doval continued to engage with his counterpart and he was assured of action. However the ISI then decided to derail the NSA level talks.

The arrest of Jadhav was the first provocation towards the same. He was picked up and a video of him confessing that he was a spy was released by Pakistan. The Pakistan army even went on to state that Jadhav was a spy planted by Doval himself. This did not go down too well with the NSA. The talks had been successfully derailed, much to the liking of the Pakistan army and ISI.

OneIndia News