Kulbhushan Jadhav
Television channels showing news of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in Jammu, India.

UNITED NATIONS (Diya TV) — The International Court of Justice ordered Pakistan on Thursday to stay the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the latest development in a high-profile case that has further strained relations in an already tense region.

The court asked Pakistan to delay the execution of the Indian naval officer, who was previously convicted of espionage, until it had a chance to rule on a case brought by India, which claims that Pakistan prevented Jadhav from having access to consular officials after his arrest.

“Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr. Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings and shall inform the Court of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order,” the court said in its order.

Jadhav was arrested in March of last year and charged with espionage and sabotage. Islamabad officials accused him of fomenting terrorist activities in the restive southwest province of Baluchistan and sentenced him to death last month. Pakistani authorities have since pointed to his arrest as evidence of India’s involvement in terrorist activities in the country.

However, New Delhi has maintained the stance that Jadhav was a retired naval officer who was conducting business in Iran when Pakistani officials kidnapped him there and took him to Pakistan. India has claimed that Jadhav was not permitted to meet with consular officials during a rapid trial and sentencing, and that Pakistan violated the Vienna Convention.

Indian officials celebrated the court’s order on Thursday.

“The stand of the Indian government has been vindicated,” Mukul Rohatgi, India’s attorney general, told reporters. “The Indian government stand is really based on truth and justice and respect for human rights.”

The office of Pakistan’s attorney general released a statement on Thursday that played down the court’s decision.

“These measures have no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the court,” the statement read. “We are confident that India would not be able to hide the subversive activities it is trying to carry out through its agents like Commander Jadhav.”