Pakistan and China strongly reject the accusations made by India concerning the seizure of a dual-use shipment that allegedly pertains to Islamabad’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
According to Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the reports from Indian media distort facts and misrepresent the situation. She clarified that the incident involves the import of a commercial lathe machine by a Karachi-based commercial entity, which primarily supplies parts to Pakistan’s automobile industry. Baloch emphasized that private entities are addressing the matter against the unjustified seizure. She highlighted that the equipment’s specifications indicate its purely commercial use, and the transaction was conducted transparently through legitimate banking channels with proper documentation.
The Indian media, citing officials, claimed that Indian security agencies at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port intercepted and seized the consignment of a ship bound for Karachi from China, citing concerns about its dual-use potential for Pakistan’s military programs. However, Baloch condemned India’s actions, calling it a disruption of free trade and criticized India’s assumption of a policing role with questionable credentials. She also noted the growing impunity of certain states in violating international norms.
In addition, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian disputed India’s description of the seized machine, asserting that it was a heat-treating furnace, not an autoclave. He emphasized that the furnace is not a military item or a dual-use item, and therefore, it does not fall under nonproliferation export controls.
