Terrorists abducted Jadhav from Iran, sold him to ISI: Baloch activist exposes Pakistan

NEW DELHI: In a startling revelation, Baloch activist Mehrab Sarjov has exposed Pakistan's role in kidnapping of Kulbhushan Jadhav and said the Indian national was captured by terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Khurasan and later sold to country's intelligence agency ISI. "The Pakistan's claim that Jadhav was involved in terrorism and espionage is baseless. A trap was laid to kidnap him from an Iranian territory and bring him to Pakistan," Mehrab Sarjov said. "Jadhav did not enter Pakistan voluntarily but was sold to the ISI by the group that abducted him," he added. Sarjov said Jadhav was approached by some people with a 'business offer' to which he hurriedly agreed. "Jadhav traveled with his associate to Iran's border town Saravan in a rented car, where a Baloch separatist also boarded his vehicle. This Balochi trapped Jadhav and took him into Pakistani territory," Sarjov said. "He was captured by a terror outfit Lashkar-e-Khurasan, known for kidnapping foreign nationals, and was kept at an unknown location it Zamran for three weeks. He was later sold to Pakistan intelligence agency ISI," he added. The activist reiterated Jadhav was a victim and not spy. He also said Jadhav was made a scapegoat by Pakistan to score political points. "Many observers believe his kidnapping has a political reason. It was Pakistan's ploy to put pressure on its neighbors," he said. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April for his alleged involvement in espionage and terrorist activities. India had moved the ICJ against Jadhav's death penalty by a Pakistan military court. The ICJ had on May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing the death sentence. Pakistan has so far dismissed 16 request by India for consular access to Jadhav. Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.