Hours after Pakistan said that a second consular access to death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav would not be granted, India today said it would keep trying for “full” implementation of the verdict by the International Court of Justice that had gone in its favour.

“The (International Court of Justice) judgment was in our favour. We have been telling Pakistan consistently that it should be implemented fully. We will still try for its full implementation,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing here.
Charge d’ Affaires at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad Gaurav Ahluwalia had met Jadhav for the first time on September 2 following the ICJ verdict directing Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav.

Striking a reconciliatory tone after Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said a fee of $20 per pilgrim would be charged to supplement the “enormous expenditure” incurred on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and to provide services to the pilgrims, the MEA asked Pakistan to show flexibility.

The MEA spokesperson said India had gone for talks with Pakistan with an “open mind” to resolve all issues. “But Pakistan kind of insisted that there has to be a fee of USD 20. We have requested them that this be reconsidered. You can’t charge somebody going on a pilgrimage,’’ he observed.