Pakistan protests India's seizure of ship on suspicion of 'consignment for nuclear programme', calls it ‘unjustified’

livemint.com:

Pakistan on Sunday protested India's action on a Karachi-bound ship from China on suspicion of 'consignment for nuclear programme'. Calling the action an "unjustified seizure" of commercial goods destined for Karachi, Pakistan clarified that the consignment was a "simple case" of the import of a commercial lathe machine by a commercial entity which supplies parts to the automobile industry in this country.

Also Read: 'Freedom of Kashmiris...': Pakistan's newly elected PM Shehbaz Sharif in first speech The transportation of goods is a simple case of import of a commercial lathe machine by a Karachi-based commercial entity for Pakistan's automobile industry, stated Pakistan's Foreign Office Pakistan's reaction has come after security officials intercepted and seized the consignment of a Karachi-bound ship from China at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port. The security agencies found that it was a dual-use consignment with implications for Pakistan's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Also Read: Pakistan rains: At least 36 killed as heavy winter rains collapse buildings, trigger landslides Calling India's action as ‘unjustified’, the foreign official said, “Pakistan condemns India’s high-handedness in seizure of commercial goods. This disruption of free trade underscores the dangers inherent in the arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states with dubious credentials.

Such acts also highlight the growing impunity of certain states in violating international norms and taking arbitrary measures in violation of international law." During the security inspection of the ship, it was found that the ship consignment had a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, manufactured by an Italian company. It is worth noting that the CNC