Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav (also spelled Kulbhushan Yadav, alleged alias Hussain Mubarak Patel)[6][7][8] (born 16 April 1970) is an Indian national who has been incarcerated in Pakistan since 2016. The Pakistani government alleges that he is a spy for the Research and Analysis Wing, India's intelligence agency, and was arrested in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.[9][10] The Indian foreign ministry says that he was kidnapped from Iran and illegally rendered to Pakistan.[11]
The Pakistani government stated that he was a commander in the Indian Navy who was involved in subversive activities inside Pakistan and was arrested on 3 March 2016 during a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan.[12][13] The Indian government recognised Jadhav as a former naval officer but denied any current links with him and maintained that he took premature retirement.[14][15][16]
On 10 April 2017, Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial in Pakistan.[17][18] On 18 May 2017, the International Court of Justice stayed the execution pending the final judgement on the case.[19][20] On 17 July 2019, the court rejected India's appeal for Jadhav's release and ordered Pakistan to suspend the execution. It ruled that Pakistan will have to review the entire process of trial and conviction of Kulbhushan Jadhav and provide India with consular access.[21] Pakistan allowed one Indian Consulate visit to Jadhav, but subsequent visits have been denied.[22]