Ship from China Allegedly Transporting Consignment for Pakistan Nuclear Program Stopped at Mumbai Port

Mumbai: A Chinese cargo ship on its way to Karachi was stopped by Indian security agencies at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port on suspicion that it contained a dual-use consignment which was to be used for Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

Acting on an intelligence input, the customs department stopped a Malta-flagged merchant ship — CMA CGM Attila — at the port on January 23.

Inspection revealed that the ship carried a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine manufactured in Italy. According to the experts, the equipment would be useful in manufacturing critical parts for Pakistan’s missile development programme.

A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) team also inspected the consignment and certified that it could be used by Pakistan for its nuclear programme.

Since 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 dual-use goods and technologies.

The CNC machine was used by North Korea in its nuclear programme.

It is believed that Pakistan is using China as a conduit to acquire restricted items from Europe and the US for its nuclear and missile programmes.

In February 2020, China was supplying autoclaves to Pakistan under the cover of “industrial dryer”. The autoclave was seized from a Chinese ship bound for Pakistan’s Port Qasim.