The "video confession" of a former naval officer arrested on charges of espionage in Pakistan has been rejected by the government for having "no basis in fact". India has also raised the possibility of the man being abducted.
Kulbhushan Yadav's six-minute-long statement was released by Pakistani government officials today; he says he is working for India's top intel agency, RAW, and that he is still with the Indian Navy and is due to retire in 2022.
"The video has this individual making statements which have no basis in fact. That the individual claims to make the statements of his own free will not only challenges credulity but clearly indicates tutoring," a statement by the Foreign Ministry said.
India also points out its diplomats have not been allowed access to Mr Yadav, who it says appears to have been running a legitimate business in Iran. "Our enquiries reveal that he apparently was being harassed while operating a legitimate business from Iran. While we probe this aspect further, his presence now in Pakistan raises questions, including the possibility of his abduction from Iran," the government said.
In the video that aired today, Mr Yadav makes a series of comments that match Pakistan's allegations about fuelling the separatist movement in Balochistan, its largest but least developed province, and inciting violence in Karachi. India has repeatedly denied any interest or interference in either area.
Mr Yadav says in the video that he began working as an intel recruit after the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 in which nine people were killed and that he then set up a small business in Iran which provided him cover for frequent trips to Pakistan before becoming a RAW agent in 2013.
He says he was caught while trying to cross in to Pakistan from Iran on March 3.
Sources accuse Pakistan of "spy games" and ducking responsibility for the terror attack on the air force base in Pathankot in January in which seven military personnel were killed.
India has asked a visiting team of Pakistani investigators, who toured the air force base today, to provide access to Masood Azhar, chief of the Jaish-E-Mohammed terror group, who masterminded the Pathankot assault.
This is the complete government statement:
We have seen a video released by Pakistani authorities of a former Indian Naval officer, doing business in Iran, who is in Pakistani custody under unexplained circumstances. The video has this individual making statements which have no basis in fact. That the individual claims to make the statements of his own free will not only challenges credulity but clearly indicates tutoring. It is also relevant to note here that despite our request, we have not been given consular access to an Indian national under detention in a foreign country, as is the accepted international practice. We are naturally concerned about his well-being in these circumstances.
Government categorically rejects allegations that this individual was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan at our behest. Our enquiries reveal that he apparently was being harassed while operating a legitimate business from Iran. While we probe this aspect further, his presence now in Pakistan raises questions, including the possibility of his abduction from Iran. This would become clear only if we are given consular access to him and we urge the Government of Pakistan to respond immediately to our request.
