ISLAMABAD: In a recent development shedding light on persistent concerns regarding proliferation trading between Pakistan and China, Indian customs officials intercepted a Malta-flagged merchant ship, CMA CGM Attila, at the Nhava Sheva port on January 23.
The vessel, bound for Karachi, was found carrying a suspicious cargo that alerted port authorities, prompting a thorough inspection by Indian officials and subsequent seizure of the shipment. This interception forms part of a broader endeavor by Indian authorities to curb the illicit transfer of dual-use military-grade items to Pakistan.
The seizure was triggered by specific intelligence received by port officials, who grew suspicious after scrutinizing the official documents accompanying the consignment. The documents identified the sender as ‘Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd’ and the recipient as ‘Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd’ based in Sialkot, Pakistan.
Further inquiry uncovered that the approximately 22,000 kg consignment, initially thought to be destined for Pakistan Wings, was actually dispatched by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and intended for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan.
Cosmos Engineering, a known Pakistani defense supplier, has come under scrutiny since March 2022, when Indian authorities intercepted a shipment of thermoelectric instruments at the same port.
These incidents highlight a recurring pattern of Pakistan’s efforts to acquire dual-use and restricted items for military purposes through intermediaries.
The connection between Pakistan Wings and Quantum Logix, a US-sanctioned entity due to its activities contrary to national security interests, deepens concerns about the covert nature of these transactions.
Quantum Logix has been listed on the US Department of Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations (EAR) entities list since June 14 last year.
