IndiaToday.in | Posted by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Ahmedabad, November 11, 2017 | UPDATED 00:51 IST
"India is making all efforts to get Kulbhushan Jadhav released from Pakistani prison," Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Defence Minister 
Nirmala Sitharaman today called Pakistan's decision to allow former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his wife a "good humanitarian gesture."
Kulbhushan Jadhav, accused of being an agent of India's Research and Analysis Wing, has been sentenced to death for alleged espionage. On Friday, the Pakistan Foreign Office said he would be allowed to meet his wife on "humanitarian grounds."
Pakistan previously rejected India's demands for consular access to Jadhav - several times. The United Nations' top court, the International Court of Justice, stayed Jadhav's execution earlier this year.
"It is a good humanitarian gesture," Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference in Ahmedabad, when asked about Islamabad's decision.
"India is making all efforts to get Kulbhushan Jadhav released from Pakistani prison. India has also approached the International Court of Justice (on the issue)," she said.
Sitharaman said she learned about Pakistan's decision from the media. "I don't know what is the position on allowing his wife to visit him, but it is a good gesture. It will boost Jadhav's morale in jail."
Nirmala Sitharaman is in Gujarat to campaign for the BJP for next month's Assembly polls.
