'I'm certain Pak will not hang Jadhav'

'At some stage they will convert it to life imprisonment or something else.'

"Not a single man has been exchanged between India and Pakistan in the last 20, 25 years," R K Yadav, former Research and Analysis Wing officer and author of Mission R&AW, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

"Both countries should consider this option because prisoners from both India and Pakistan are languishing in each others' jails."

What is the most appropriate thing India can do to save Mr Jadhav?

It can be only done through diplomatic pressure. Some are saying we should go to the International Court of Justice, but that is humbug.

Only pressure from India or neighbouring countries can help in this situation.

Since Iran was also involved in the issue, pressure from Iran can also count here.

We can also take the help of the US government to pressurise Pakistan.

This is also in retaliation to Ajmal Kasab's hanging.

The Pakistan army is creating too many problems for the Baluchis. They are doing all this to divert the world's attention from that.

I am certain they will not hang him. At some stage they will convert it to life imprisonment or something else.

What makes you so confident that they will not execute him?

This is the verdict of any army court which has been delivered within hours.

The Pakistan government wasn't involved; neither was permission taken from the Pakistan government to start this army trial.

He was not provided any civilian legal aid. This is a deliberate attempt by the army to execute him.

Kulbhushan Jadhav has two options -- the civilian supreme court that will have the final say and the president's clemency.

The civilian court will certainly look at the charges that have been framed and the charges are too grey.

He is charged with disturbing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and creating disturbances in Sindh, Pashtunistan. This is all humbug!

A single man can't do all these activities there.

In a situation like this, is there any room for behind the scene negotiations, like a prisoner exchange?

Any discussion can only happen through diplomatic channels. The possibility of a prisoner exchange with someone in India does not exist in this situation.

In the case of Sarabjit Singh you have observed that behind the scene parlays did not have any effect.

Not a single man has been exchanged in the last 20, 25 years.

In Sarabjit's case, I sent a letter to (then prime minister) Dr Manmohan Singh to exchange him with an identical kind of person in India, he did not reply.

This option was not given credence.

Both countries should consider this option. Prisoners from both India and Pakistan are languishing in each others' jails.

In the world of espionage, if a spy does get caught in Pakistan, what happens to him?

The judiciary in Pakistan is scared of the army and terrorist outfits.

If you deliver a judgment against a terrorist or some big shot, he (the judge) usually has to go and settle in some foreign country.

The judiciary is not independent in Pakistan. That is the reason there is no justice for a person of Indian origin.

Have Indian spies been hanged in Pakistan in the past?

So many. A few months back there was a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi about Indians languishing in Pakistani jails.

In the secret world of spies and intelligence agencies if a spy does get caught in an enemy country, does the spy agency wash its hands off the spy?

Usually they do. It depends upon the importance of that person, but usually they disown him.

IMAGE: Congress workers protest in Mumbai against a Pakistan military court sentencing retired Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death. Photograph: PTI Photo

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