Times View Although Kulbhushan Jadhav will not be returning to India any time soon, which would have been our best case scenario, it is a relief indeed that ICJ has directed Pakistan to suspend and review his death sentence. It has also directed Pakistan to provide him consular access – in accordance with international diplomatic norms, this is something India has been asking for ever since he was arrested by Pakistan in 2016. This is the very least that Pakistan should do right away.

The International Court of Justice on Wednesday ruled in favour of India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and asked Pakistan to review his conviction and sentencing and also grant him consular access.India had instituted proceedings at ICJ on May 8, 2017 in relation to egregious violations by Pakistan of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 in the matter of arrest, detention and trial of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.Here are the highlights of the ICJ verdict :* Court finds that Pakistan deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation and thereby breached obligations incumbent upon it under Vienna Convention on Consular Relations* A continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav* There is no room for doubt that Jadhav is an Indian national* There is no basis to conclude that India abused its procedural rights when requesting the Court to indicate provisional measures in this case* India was under no obligation in the present case to consider other dispute settlement mechanisms prior to instituting proceedings before the Court; Pakistan's objection cannot be withheld* Court is satisfied that the evidence before it leaves no room for doubt that Mr Jadhav is of Indian nationality* Pakistan’s objection based on the 'clean hand doctrine' must be rejected* None of the arguments raised by Pakistan concerning the applicability of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention to the case of Mr Jadhav can be upheld* Pakistan breached its obligation to inform Mr. Jadhav of his rights under Article 36, paragraph 1 (b), of the Vienna Convention* Alleged failure by India to co-operate in the investigation process in Pakistan does not relieve Pakistan of its obligation to grant consular access, and does not justify Pakistan’s denial of access to Mr Jadhav by consular officers of India.* A continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr. Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav