Hague (Netherlands): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearing in case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the alleged Indian spy sentenced to death by a Pakistani Military Court, this afternoon. Legal team led by former Solicitor General Harish Salve is representing the Indian Government.

India team, which is arguing first, is expected to focus on the violations of the Vienna convention by Pakistan on the issue of denying consular access to Jadhav and on the lack of transparency in the Pakistani Military Court, which India said was ‘illegal.’ This will be followed by arguments from the Pakistan team led by Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf.

India moved the ICJ last week to save Jadhav after Pakistan denied consular access despite 16 requests. Pakistan has said the Indian move to approach ICJ was an attempt to divert attention from “state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan” and that it was analysing the ICJ’s authority in the matter.

It will be after 18 years that an India-Pakistan dispute will play out in the world court. India has stayed away from the ICJ and it is only the second time after 1971 that New Delhi has sought the intervention of the judicial arm of the United Nations against Pakistan.