Will not allow anyone to work against the security and the stability of the country, says Khawaja Asif

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said former Indian naval officer Kulbushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court for alleged involvement in espionage, can appeal before the Army chief and the President in 60 days and that the country would follow the legal course in the case.

Speaking in the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, he criticised India's response to Jadhav’s conviction. “All I want to say is that we have followed all the rules and regulations, and the laws of the land. Instead.”

Pakistan would not allow anyone to work against the security and the stability of the country. “The government of Pakistan is in a position to deal with all such elements with an iron fist,” he said.

Also Read Who is Kulbushan Jadhav?

India on Monday responded strongly to the death sentence by summoning the Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi and issuing a protest note, which stated that if Jadhav is executed, India would regard it “as a case of premeditated murder”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable and prepared to respond to any spectrum of threat. “The nation has full trust in the country’s armed forces,” he said, assuring the forces have the government’s full support in equipping them to address the modern day challenges.

Addressing the passing out parade at Pakistan Air Force Academy (PAF) Asghar Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Sharif said Pakistan wants friendly relationship with all its neighbours. Cooperation, rather than conflict and shared prosperity rather than mutual suspicion is the hallmark of Pakistan’s policy, he added.

“Pakistan is a peace loving country and has always maintained the policy of having friendly relations with other countries particularly its neighbours.”

The Prime Minister said Pakistan on its part would never hesitate to extend the hand of friendship to all and would never waver from returning goodwill with even more goodwill. However, “despite our desire for peaceful coexistence, we cannot remain oblivious to defending our sovereignty and protecting our independence”.

(With inputs from PTI)