Pakistan sentences Indian naval officer to DEATH after military court finds him guilty of working as a spy

Pakistan is set to execute an Indian naval officer accused of being a spy, potentially ratcheting up tension between the two nuclear-armed states

Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav was sentenced to death after a military court found him guilty of planning, coordinating and organising espionage 'aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan', a statement from the country said on Monday April 10,2017

Jadhav, who also goes by the alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, was arrested in the southwestern province of Balochistan on March 3 last year and officials claimed that he later confessed to working for Indian intelligence.

But India has denied that he was a spy.

'Today, (army chief) Gen Qamer Javed Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence,' a Pakistan military statement said, without stating when the execution would take place.

There was no immediate comment from the Indian government.

The nuclear arch-rivals routinely accuse one another of sending spies into their countries, and it is not uncommon for either nation to expel diplomats accused of espionage, particularly at times of high tension.

Note

Other 'Indian spies' who have made the headlines

As the sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav gets everyone talking about espionage, Mail Today takes a look at five 'spies' and traces their journeys. 

RAVINDRA KAUSHIK 

Ravindra Kaushik, a Rajasthan resident, reportedly joined RAW in 1975. When he reached Pakistan, he took on the name of Nabi Ahmed, learnt Urdu, got married and joined the Pakistan Army. 

According to a Telegraph report, his cover was blown up in 1983 and he was sentenced to death in 1985 over charges of spying. His death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. He died in Pakistan in 2001 reportedly due to pulmonary tuberculosis and a heart ailment. 

RAM RAJ 

Ram Raj worked for an intelligence agency for 18 years, accompanying spies as a guide, said a news report. 

He was sent to Pakistan as a spy in September 2004 but was caught the next day. After two years in captivity, he was sentenced to six years in prison

SURJEET SINGH 

Surjeet Singh was held in Pakistan on charges of spying in the 1980s. Nearly 30 years later, he returned to his home in Punjab in June 2012. 

He admitted that he was sent to Pakistan to spy for India. 'I was a RAW agent,' he told reporters then. His release was confused with release of Sarabjit Singh

Surjeet Singh was held in Pakistan on charges of spying in the 1980s. Nearly 30 years later, he returned to his home in Punjab in June 2012. 

He admitted that he was sent to Pakistan to spy for India. 'I was a RAW agent,' he told reporters then. His release was confused with release of Sarabjit Singh. 

'I met him recently though I couldn't meet him today before leaving,' Surjeet had told reporters. Surjeet died of a cardiac arrest in November 2015.

GURBAKSH RAM 

Gurbaksh Ram spent 18 years in Kot Lakhpar jail on charges of spying. He claimed that he was trained by an Indian intelligence agency and was arrested by Pakistan's security agencies in 1988. 

He was released in 2006 along with 18 other Indian prisoners. After his release, he demanded a government job. 

SARABJIT SINGH 

Sarabjit Singh was arrested by Pakistan's Military Intelligence Battalion in Kasur district in August 1990. He was accused of spying and planting explosives in Lahore and Faisalabad on August 30, 1990 which killed 10 people and injured 66. 

He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court in October 1991. He was allegedly attacked by fellow inmates at Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore on April 26, 2013 and succumbed to injuries on May 2. 

Sarabjit's family always maintained that he had inadvertently crossed into Pakistan.