Propagandistic exercises carry no credibility: India to Pakistan over Kulbhushan's second video

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar has put up the statement on Twitter which reads: "This does not come as a surprise. Pakistan is simply continuing its practice out coerced statements on video. It is time for them to realise that such propagandistic exercises simply carry no credibility. The absurdity of a captive under duress certifying his own welfare while allegations of his captors clearly merits no comment."

"Pakistan is best advised to fulfill its international obligations, whether it pertains to consular relations or UNSC resolutions 1267 and 1317 on terrorism and to desist from continuing violations of human rights of an Indian national" it added.

In the video released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, Jadhav is purportedly heard saying that  his mother and wife were scared during their meeting with him as an Indian diplomat was shouting at them, media reports said.

"There was an indian diplomat with my mother, who was continuously shouting on her," Jadhav, who is lodged in a Pakistan jail, is heard saying.

"During the meeting, it looked like my mother had been beaten and brought here on a plane," he’s further was heard saying.

The Indian diplomat who accompanied Jadhav’s mother and his wife on the visit was Indian deputy high commissioner to Pakistan JP Singh, the Times of India reported.

The video has been released just a few days after the Pakistan Foreign Office released photos of Jadhav meeting his wife and mother in Islamabad on December 25.

In the video, Jadhav appears to be saying that his mother and wife were happy to meet him. “She was satisfied with my health. I am okay here and they don’t harm me,” Jadhav is heard saying.

Jadhav is further heard saying he "saw fear" in his mother’s eyes. He’s then heard asking India why it is lying about him not working for an intelligence agency.

"I want to tell India that I am a commissioned officer in the Indian Navy. Why are you lying about my working for an intelligence agency?" he asked.

Jadhav is further heard saying in the video that his mother was "very happy" to see him and was "in a good state".

He is also heard "thanking" Pakistani officials and repeating his earlier statements, which have been rubbished by India as "manufactured" and "coached".

It was, however, not clear how  Jadhav could see anything that happened once his mother stepped out of the room.

In photos tweeted by Islamabad after the meeting, he was seen sitting behind a glass pane and communicating with his mother and wife, who were on the other side, through intercom.

However, questions are being raised on the authenticity and timing of the video. While there has been no statement from Jadhav’s family, News18 spoke a friend of the Navy officer, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan court allegedly for spying.

“The last time the family met him, the photos showed that he had injuries. So, now they are on a back foot. This video looks like Pakistan is putting pressure on him to make a statement. This is an old game of our neighbour,”  News 18 quoted said Sachin Suresh Kale, Jadhav’s friend, as saying.

The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said, “It appears that Jadhav was under considerable stress and speaking in an atmosphere of coercion. Most of his remarks were clearly tutored and designed to perpetuate the false narrative of his alleged activities in Pakistan. His appearance also raises questions of his health and wellbeing.”

India had slammed Pakistan following the tightly-controlled meeting, accusing Islamabad of harassing  Jadhav's mother and wife - forcing them to change their clothes and not allowing  Jadhav's mother to speak in her mother tongue. The shoes of  Jadhav's wife Chetankul, were also taken away.

In a scathing statement, Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament that  Jadhav was forced to see his mother and wife in the form of "widows" as their mangalsutra, bindi and bangles -- symbols of marriage -- were taken away. In the name of security,  Jadhav's mother and wife Chetankul were forced to change and wear salwar kameez, she said.

Swaraj also accused the Pak authorities of flouting all norms by exposing Jadhav's mother and wife to a media barrage.