Pakistan's Foreign Office has staunchly denied Indian accusations concerning the detention of a Karachi-bound ship carrying materials purportedly linked to nuclear development, labelling the incident as a distortion of facts and an unwarranted impediment to free trade.
The vessel in question, the CMA CGM Attila, a Chinese freighter en route to Pakistan, was intercepted and held at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port on 23 January.
Indian officials disclosed on Saturday that an examination by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) identified a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine within the cargo, which they claimed could be utilised in the advancement of Pakistan's nuclear capabilities.
Indian port and defence authorities acted to confiscate the package, voicing concerns about potential proliferation activities between Pakistan and China. The DRDO cited documents, including the bill of lading, identifying Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd as the consignor and noting the shipment's weight at 22,180 kilos.
Countering these assertions, Pakistan's Foreign Office emphasised that the consignment was a standard commercial lathe machine intended for producing automotive parts within Pakistan, with specifications indicating its commercial use only. The Foreign Ministry asserted that the transaction was transparent, conducted through legitimate banking channels, and accompanied by all necessary paperwork.
Pakistan has announced that the involved private entities are legally contesting the seizure, denouncing India's actions as a baseless confiscation of commercial goods and an infringement of international trading norms.
The Foreign Office criticised the Indian government's "irresponsible" conduct, accusing it of implementing arbitrary measures in contravention of international standards, thereby disrupting legitimate trade activities and assuming questionable enforcement roles.
Conversely, the DRDO maintains that the seized CNC machine falls under the purview of the Wassenaar Arrangement, regulating the trade of dual-use goods and technologies. The machine, as per the DRDO, bears significance due to its reported usage in North Korea's nuclear programme.
The investigation, according to Indian officials, has unearthed discrepancies in the cargo's documentation, suggesting deliberate obfuscation of the end-users. The inquiry is ongoing to unearth further details.
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