Amid Pakistan’s clamour for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and China’s attempt to block India’s efforts to sit at the nuclear high table, inputs with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) as well as foreign Intelligence agencies suggest that Pakistan continues to supply nuclear fissile materials and missile technology to North Korea.
Nuclear materials like “Monel” and “Inconel” supplied to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) by Chinese entity Beijing Suntech Technology Company ltd are being diverted to North Korea in violation of United Nations’ sanctions.
China Atomic Energy Authority recently received a written complaint from a foreign Government that supplies from the Chinese firm to Pakistan were being diverted to North Korea by authorities in Islamabad.
However, the Chinese Government hushed up the matter as it could have an adverse impact on Beijing’s pitch to get NSG membership to Pakistan if the Indian request was considered. However, the issue leaked out of North Korea and was picked up by intelligence agencies of Western Governments that are key members of the NSG.
America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had recently tipped off friendly countries, including India, about this illicit nuclear trade between Pakistan and North Korea and asked them to heighten surveillance of cargo ships carrying white goods emanating from Pakistan. On its part, the CIA too is tracking such movements in the region.
Indian Intelligence agencies swung into action after they received credible inputs from multiple sources that nuclear fissile materials and restricted missile technology were being transferred by Pakistan to North Korea in cargo ships via the sea route, top Government sources said.
Besides RAW other Indian agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence have also been asked to keep an eye on nuclear trade between Pakistan and China. Merchant cargo and empty ships originating from Pakistan and sailing to other South East Asian countries are also being kept under surveillance to track nuclear trade, the sources said.
“With an already tainted track record of proliferation and irresponsible international behaviour with regard to nuclear commerce, Pakistan continues to play around with North Korea by illegally transferring fissile materials and missile technology to that country,” an official said, adding Islamabad’s bid seeking parity with India to gain entry to the NSG could defeat the anti-proliferation efforts of the international community.
The CIA has also been stressing the point that Pakistan continues to sell nuclear materials to North Korea at a time when Islamabad has been urging the international community to grant it membership to the NSG.