Pakistan said on Sunday that a Karachi-bound ship seized by Indian forces in Mumbai was carrying “commercial” supplies rather than nuclear project machinery, a day after Indian authorities released details of the seizure. According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, the report of the seizure contained “misrepresentations of facts”.
On January 23, CMA CGM Attila, a Chinese ship bound for Pakistan, was stopped at Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai. Officials told news agency PTI on Saturday that a team from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) evaluated the shipment, which included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, and confirmed its potential use in Pakistan’s nuclear devvelopment.
Pakistan denied this, saying in a statement that the ship was carrying commercial lathe equipment for a Karachi-based firm.
“This is a simple case of import of a commercial lathe machine by a Karachi based commercial entity that supplies parts to the automobile industry in Pakistan. The specifications of the equipment clearly indicate that it is intended solely for commercial use. The transaction was being done through transparent banking channels with all relevant documents, the statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Pakistan said that the private companies concerned are pursuing the case against this wrongful seizure. “Pakistan condemns India’s arbitrariness in the seizure of commercial goods. This disruption of free trade underlines the dangers inherent in the arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states of dubious credentials. Such acts violate international norms and may harm some states. They also highlight the growing impunity of arbitrary measures in violation of international law,” the statement further said.
Indian officials, who discovered the transport of the CNC machine, noted that it fell under the rules of the Wassenaar Arrangement – an international agreement aimed at regulating the spread of goods with both civilian and military applications, in which India actively participates. Participates from. North Korea used a CNC machine in its nuclear program.
Officials said the investigation uncovered inconsistencies in shipping information, indicating efforts to conceal the actual recipients. He said further investigation is underway.