The ongoing probe aims to ascertain if the suspected Pakistani entities receiving these items are linked to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO), responsible for Pakistan’s defence research and development.
Pakistan nuclear programme: Nearly a year after India seized a cargo ship en route from a Chinese port to Karachi for carrying materials linked to Pakistan’s nuclear program, a case has been filed in the Sindh High Court. Cosmos Engineering, the Pakistani firm that imported the goods, is seeking compensation from the shipping company. Here are all the details about the shipment and how the matter reached to Sindh High Court.
A Karachi-bound ship from China was stopped by Indian security agencies at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port on suspicion that it contained a dual-use consignment that could be used for Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme, officials here said on Saturday.
The customs officials, based on an intelligence input, halted a Malta-flagged 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 company.
CNC machines are basically controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency, consistency and accuracy not possible manually.
Matter reaches Sindh High Court
Interestingly for the Indian perspective, a petition has been submitted to the Sindh High Court, alleging that a shipping company collaborated with Indian authorities to seize certain goods. The petition claims that these imported items were confiscated at the Mumbai port due to the shipping company’s negligence.
It notes that the Pakistani Foreign Ministry clarified that the goods were intended solely for commercial purposes. Nonetheless, the shipping company is accused of working with Indian officials to facilitate the seizure. Additionally, the petition asserts that both the shipping and cargo companies have harmed the plaintiff’s international reputation. The lawyer representing the plaintiff is seeking compensation amounting to Rs 20.9 crore.
Ship linked with Pakistan nuclear programme?
Further investigations showed many discrepancies in the shipping details, indicating potential evasion tactics to conceal the true recipients. This incident follows past seizures of dual-use military-grade items being transhipped from China to Pakistan, raising concerns over illicit procurement activities.
The ongoing probe aims to ascertain if the suspected Pakistani entities receiving these items are linked to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO), responsible for Pakistan’s defence research and development.
The 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 and added that the seizure falls under the prevention of possible proliferation by Pakistan and China.
According 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 as “Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd” of Sialkot.
(With inputs from agencies)
