Kulbhushan Jadhav. You've heard the name for years. It’s a name that carries the weight of a decade-long shadow war between New Delhi and Islamabad. But lately, as 2026 rolls on, the question has shifted from "Will he be released?" to a much more somber one: is Kulbhushan Jadhav still alive?
Honestly, the silence from the Pakistani side can be deafening. For a man who hasn't been seen in a non-staged environment since that heartbreaking meeting with his mother and wife in 2017, the worry is real. However, based on the latest legal maneuvers in the Islamabad High Court and the April 2025 constitutional bench hearings, the short answer is yes. He is still in Pakistani custody. But the "alive" part comes with a massive asterisk involving his mental health and the legal limbo he's trapped in.
The 2025 "Loophole" and the Current Status of Jadhav
Just a few months ago, in April 2025, the case took a weird turn. A seven-judge constitutional bench in Pakistan, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, was digging into why some Pakistani civilians weren't getting the right to appeal military court convictions. During this, the Defence Ministry's lawyer, Khawaja Haris Ahmed, dropped a bit of a bombshell.
He basically argued that even though Pakistan passed the International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Act in 2021, it didn't necessarily give Jadhav a straightforward "right to appeal" like a normal prisoner. It was more about "review and reconsideration" to satisfy the ICJ.
What does this tell us?
- He is physically there: You don't argue about the specific legal technicalities of a man's appeal rights in the Supreme Court if that man is no longer alive. It would be a diplomatic suicide mission for Pakistan.
- The 2026 Update: As of early 2026, Jadhav remains incarcerated, likely in a high-security facility in or near Islamabad.
- Consular Access remains a mess: India has repeatedly slammed the "access" provided, calling it coerced and useless because of the constant presence of Pakistani officials and cameras.
Why the "Is He Alive" Rumors Keep Surfacing
People get suspicious when there’s no proof of life. In the world of high-stakes espionage (or alleged espionage, depending on which side of the border you’re on), silence usually means something bad.
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Remember the 2017 video? The one where he looked visibly aged and spoke in a way that many experts, including forensic psychologists, claimed was heavily scripted? That was nine years ago. Since then, we’ve had a global pandemic, multiple changes in the Pakistani government, and a massive economic crisis in the region.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hasn't had a "credible" meeting with him in years. Every time Pakistan claims he "refused" to file a review petition, the Indian side basically says, "We don't believe you; he’s being coerced." This back-and-forth creates a vacuum. And in that vacuum, rumors that he has passed away or been incapacitated grow like weeds.
What Most People Get Wrong About the ICJ Verdict
There's this common misconception that the International Court of Justice ordered his release.
They didn't.
The 15-1 ruling in 2019 was a "win" for India because it stayed the execution and forced Pakistan to provide consular access. But the ICJ stopped short of saying, "Send him home." It left the "review and reconsideration" up to the Pakistani legal system. That's why we're still talking about this in 2026. Pakistan says they complied by passing a law; India says the law is a sham because it doesn't allow an Indian lawyer to represent him.
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"The ICJ judgment clearly says that the review and reconsideration process would be carried out in Pakistani courts as per the laws of Pakistan,"—Former Pakistani FO spokesperson.
This is the legal knot. Pakistan insists only lawyers licensed in Pakistan can appear in their courts. India says, "How can we trust a local lawyer with a case this sensitive?" It’s a total stalemate.
The Human Side: A Family in Powai
While the diplomats argue over Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, there is a family in the Powai suburb of Mumbai just waiting.
His father, Sudhir Jadhav, a retired Mumbai Police officer, and his mother, Avanti, have lived through a nightmare. The 2017 meeting was particularly cruel. They were forced to remove their mangalsutras, bindis, and even change their clothes. They had to speak to him through a glass partition.
If you're wondering why the public is so invested, it's because of that image. The image of a mother trying to reach her son through a thick sheet of glass while handlers watched every twitch of their faces.
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What Happens Next?
Is there a way out? Honestly, it looks like a "bargaining chip" scenario now.
In early 2025, there was news about a Pakistani "scholar" or operative who was allegedly involved in Jadhav’s kidnapping from Iran being shot dead in Balochistan. These kinds of events usually trigger shifts in the "spy wars." Some analysts believe a back-channel deal—a prisoner swap or a quiet deportation—is the only way Jadhav ever sees Mumbai again.
The reality for 2026:
- Legal Stagnation: The "Right to Appeal" debate will likely drag on in the Islamabad High Court.
- Health Concerns: There are growing calls for an independent medical commission to visit him, given the length of his solitary confinement.
- Diplomatic Pressure: India will likely keep raising the issue at the UN and other international forums, especially as his 10th year in custody approaches.
If you’re looking for a silver lining, it’s that Jadhav is more valuable to the Pakistani establishment alive than dead. As long as he is in that cell, he is a lever.
To stay truly updated, you should keep an eye on the official MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) briefings from India rather than social media rumors. The official word is always cautious, but it’s the only one that actually carries weight in a case where "fake news" is a literal weapon of statecraft. You can also monitor the International Court of Justice (ICJ) press releases for any new "compliance reports" filed by either nation.