Security agencies seize consignment meant for Pakistan's nuclear programme

A Karachibound ship from China was stopped by Indian security agencies at Mumbais Nhava Sheva port on the suspicion that it contained a dualuse consignment that could be used for Pakistans nuclear and ballistic missiles programme officials here said on SaturdayThe customs officials based on an intelligence input halted a Maltaflagged merchant ship CMA CGM Attila at the port en route to Karachi on January 23 and inspected the consignment which included a Computer Numerical Control CNC machine originally manufactured by an Italian companyCNC machines are basically controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency consistency and accuracy not possible manuallyA Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO team also inspected the consignment and certified that it could be used by the neighbouring country for its nuclear programmeAccording to the experts the equipment would be useful in manufacturing critical parts for Pakistans missile development programmeSince 1996 CNC machines have been included in the Wassenaar Arrangement an international arms control regime aimed at stopping the proliferation of equipment with both civilian and military uses India is among the 42 member countries that exchange information on transfers of conventional weapons and dualuse goods and technologiesThe CNC machine was used by North Korea in its nuclear programmeThe port officials with specific intelligence had alerted the Indian defence authorities who inspected the heavy cargo and reported their suspicions after which the consignment was seized the officials said adding that the seizure falls under the prevention of possible proliferation by Pakistan and ChinaAccording to documents such as bills of loading and other details of the consignment the consigner was mentioned as Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd and the consignee was Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd of SialkotHowever a deeper investigation by the security agencies indicated that the consignment weighing 22180 kilogrammes was shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan the officials saidThis is not the first instance when Indian port officials have seized such dualuse militarygrade items being shipped from China to PakistanCosmos Engineering a Pakistani defence supplier has been on a watchlist since March 12 2022 when Indian authorities intercepted a shipment of Italianmade thermoelectric instruments once again at the Nhava Sheva portThe officials said there have been concerns that Pakistan might be utilising China as a conduit to acquire restricted items from Europe and the US masking identities to evade detectionConcerns have intensified over Chinese support for Pakistans nuclear and missile programmes exemplified by a 2020 case where an industrial autoclave crucial for missile production was concealed as industrial equipment on a Chinese vessel bound for PakistanThe ongoing investigation aims to determine if the suspected Pakistani entities receiving these dualuse items are supplying these to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation DESTO responsible for much of Pakistans defence research and developmentDespite assertions of commitment to international conventions by both Pakistan and China the interception of such covert shipments underscores a persistent cooperation in potential proliferation activities contravening global agreements and regulations the officials saidIn February 2020 China was supplying autoclave to Pakistan under the cover of industrial dryerThe autoclave was seized from a Chinese ship Dai Cui Yun that carried a Hong Kong flag and had left Jiangyin port on the Yangtze river in Jiangsu province of China bound for Pakistans Port QasimThe seizure of the autoclave possibly meant to be used in the missile programme of Pakistan strengthens apprehensions that Pakistan is unabashedly indulging in illegal trade of missiles and violating the Missile Technology Control Regime MTCRIn June 2023 the US Bureau of Industry and Security BIS sanctioned three Chinese companies General Technology Limited autoclave supplier to Pakistan Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development and Changzhou Utek Composite Company for its involvement in supplying missileapplicable items to Pakistans ballistic missile programmeThe officials said Chinas assistance to Pakistan has come in two ways supplying sensitive materialsequipment of proliferation concerned clandestinely and acting as a conduit in facilitating the country to procure dualusemilitarygrade itemsequipment from overseas especially Europe and the USAdditionally China has assisted Pakistan in constructing civil nuclear power plants China has constructed four 300 MWe nuclear power plants in Chashma and two 1000 MWe plants in Karachi violating Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG guidelines China has plans to construct anothet 1000 MWe nuclear power plant in Chashma they saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday 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