Asia

India taking Pakistan to UN's highest court in spying case

Associated Press
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Exterior view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. India is taking Pakistan to the United Nations' highest court in an attempt to save the life of an Indian naval officer sentenced to death last month by a Pakistani military court after being convicted of espionage. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Exterior view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. India is taking Pakistan to the United Nations' highest court in an attempt to save the life of an Indian naval officer sentenced to death last month by a Pakistani military court after being convicted of espionage.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

India is taking Pakistan to the United Nations' highest court in an attempt to spare an alleged spy from execution, in a case that has exacerbated tensions between the longtime rivals.

In a hearing Monday at the International Court of Justice, India is laying out its case that Pakistan breached the rights of Kulbhushan Jadhav following his arrest by not allowing him access to consular officials or the right to choose his own defense lawyer.

Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan in March 2016 after he allegedly entered the country from Iran. Pakistani officials say he has been linked to 1,345 deaths in acts of terrorism in Pakistan, making secret trips to the country from Iran.

He was convicted in Pakistan by a military tribunal and sentenced to death in April 2017.