Pakistan invites India to challenge alleged spy's death sentence

Pakistan has invited India to challenge the death sentence of former Indian navy commander Kulbhushan Jadhav on charges of espionage and sabotage after he himself refused to file a review of the sentence.

A military court in Pakistan sentenced Jadhav to death following a secret trial in 2017, which was challenged by India in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ had ordered Pakistan to conduct an "effective review" of the ruling and stayed his execution until then.

Pakistan said on Wednesday Jadhav had refused to file a review petition in a Pakistani court, prompting India to blame Islamabad for coercing him into not challenging the sentence.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a late night statement that the Indian government or a representative can file the petition on his behalf.

"While Commander Jadhav's mercy petition is still pending, India is invited to file a review and reconsideration petition to give effect to the ICJ," the ministry said.

Pakistan's military claimed to have arrested Jadhav in 2016 in the south-western province of Balochistan where he was said to be aiding and providing arms to separatists.

Nuclear-armed South Asian rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.

Tensions have been simmering between the estranged neighbours in recent months on the control of the divided Himalayan valley of Kashmir, resulting in deadly border clashes.