Insta
India Detains Pakistan Bound Ship Off Gujarat Coast Carrying Equipment Used To Launch Ballistic Missiles
Swarajya Staff
Feb 17, 2020, 05:43 PM | Updated 05:43 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Indian Custom authorities have detained a Pakistan bound ship which wrongly declared an autoclave - used in missile launches, as an industrial dryer, Hindustan Times has reported.
This incident happened earlier this month. As per the report, the Hong Kong ship which was heading towards Karachi’s Port Qasim on 3 February was detained at the Kandla port in Gujarat after an intelligence tip-off.
There authorities discovered a 18 x 4 metre autoclave on inspection. Subsequently top intelligence officials were alerted and a team of DRDO scientists reached the spot. The autoclave can be used both for military and civilian purposes.
As per the scientists the autoclave is used in manufacturing composite lining made out of sheets of silica for solid fuel ballistic missiles.
The DRDO has now dispatched another team of nuclear scientists to examine the autoclave and if the findings of the two teams corroborate the equipment will be seized and ship owners will be charged for violating export regulations.
Indian authorities suspect that the cargo may have been part of a nuclear nexus between Pakistan and China. Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) responsible for the country’s ballistic missile program is also based in Karachi.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.