Kulbhushan Jadhav case: India refuses to hold talks on maritime security with PAK

New Delhi: India has retaliated to Pakistan over the death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Amid fresh turmoil in ties with the neighbouring country, the Indian government has decided to put on hold all bilateral exchanges until the Pak accepts to release Jadhav.

The GoI, on Friday, called off talks between the two countries on maritime security which was scheduled for April 17 and officially conveyed to the nation that it wasn't prepared to host a delegation of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) which was supposed to travel to India on Sunday.

• It could be recalled that the two countries had approved dialogue between PMSA and Indian Coast Guard.
• The meet was being considered as a sign that the two nations were looking to break the ice caused by the attack in 2016 on an Indian army camp in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The defence ministry, however, decided that since Pak was defying all international norms by awarding death sentence to Jadhav, it wasn't the time to discuss security with it.

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The visit by PMSA for April 17 talks would have been the first by any Pakistani delegation after the Uri attack as the only engagement that the two countries have had until now this year has come in the form of Indus Water Commission talks for which an Indian delegation visited Islamabad.

The Centre has stated that the sudden and inexplicable decision to award death sentence to Jadhav meant there could not be business as usual at any level with Pakistan. "The Indian high commission in Islamabad has conveyed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the MSA-ICG meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi on 17th has been postponed." said Pakistan high commission spokesperson Khawaja Maaz Tariq said.

The World Bank is now expected to come up with a fresh set of dates for the talks meant to resolve differences between India and Pakistan over Kishenganga and Ratle power projects in Jammu-Kashmir.

• It is worth mentioning that the Indian Coast Guard and PMSA regularly meet under a MoU signed in 2005.
• This MoU envisaged cooperation between the two agencies through exchange of information on Exclusive Economic Zone violations, apprehended vessels, marine pollution, natural disasters and calamities.
• The MoU also seeks to combat smuggling, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and piracy, and coordination in search and rescue and return sea passage.

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