India describes death sentence to Jadhav as 'premeditated murder'

New Delhi: Pakistan’s Army today handed down death sentence to alleged India spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, evoking strong reaction from India which said it would be 'a case of premeditated murder' if the sentence was carried out. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to the South Block to register India’s strong protest. A military court found Jadhav guilty of espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.

The development is set to put further strain on the fragile relations between the two countries. 'If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder,' the External Affairs Ministry said in reaction to the Pakistan Army's decision.

The MEA described the proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav as 'farcical' in the absence of any credible evidence against him. Jadhav was kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly, it said. (UNI)