'Pressure Won't Be Tolerated': Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Army Chief On Kulbhushan Jadhav

Islamabad: As India considers a suitable follow-up to its strong warning to Pakistan over the death sentence of former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his army chief for a strategy session today. Sources said Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, met Mr Sharif at the Prime Minister's official residence. Both agreed that no pressure, internal or external, will be tolerated with regard to Mr Jadhav and no compromises will be made on national security and integrity, sources said.  

New Delhi has said Pakistan's planned execution of Mr Jadhav, who was abducted from Iran, will be considered "pre-meditated murder" and it would do "whatever it takes" to save him. In parliament, all parties have united to condemn his sentence, handed by a Pakistani military court on Monday. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has warned that Islamabad should "consider the consequences" for bilateral ties if he is executed.

Experts say the options available to India include the recall of its high commissioner from Islamabad and reducing the mission to consular level. The government can also consider revoking Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan, create international opinion to isolate Pakistan, and move the international court of justice.

A statement from Mr Sharif's office, however, made no mention of talks on Mr Jadhav. "Matters pertaining to professional preparedness of Pak Army, current security and border situation of the country came under discussion, during the meeting," the statement read.

Pakistan claims Mr Jadhav was arrested from the troubled province of Balochistan in March 2016 and that he was working as a spy working for intel agency Research and Analysis Wing or RAW. Days after his arrest, the Pakistan army had released a video in which he was seen admitting to the claims made by Pakistan. India has dismissed the video and denied the Pakistani claims.