India stops China-Pakistan ship over suspected nuclear cargo
PTC News Desk: On suspicion of carrying a dual-use consignment that may be used for Pakistan's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, Indian security authorities stopped a ship from China that was sailing to Karachi on Saturday, according to officials.
On January 23, customs officers stopped the Malta-flagged merchant ship CMA CGM Attila at the port when it was sailing to Karachi. Based on information provided by the intelligence services, they examined the shipment, which included a CNC machine that was first produced by an Italian company.
CNC machines generate a level of efficiency, consistency, and accuracy that is not achievable with manual control because they are essentially computer-controlled.
A team from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also inspected the shipment and certified that it could be used for the neighbouring country's nuclear programme.
According to the experts, the equipment would be useful in producing critical components for Pakistan's missile development programme.
Since 1996, CNC machines have been included in the Wassenaar Arrangement, an international arms control regime aimed at preventing the proliferation of equipment with both civilian and military applications. India is one of 42 member countries that share information on the transfer of conventional weapons, dual-use goods, and technologies.
North Korea used the CNC machine as part of its nuclear programme.
The port officials, armed with specific intelligence, alerted the Indian defence authorities, who inspected the heavy cargo and reported their suspicions, after which the consignment was seized, the officials said. The officials further added that the seizure falls under the category of preventing potential proliferation by Pakistan and China.
According to documents such as the bill of loading and other consignment details, the consignor was "Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd" and the consignee was "Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd" of Sialkot.
However, a more thorough investigation by security agencies revealed that the consignment, weighing 22,180 kilogrammes, was shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and was intended for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan, officials said.
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