The Indian customs officials stopped a Malta-flagged merchant ship - CMA CGM Attila – that departed from China to Karachi on January 23.

The authorities inspected the consignment which included an Italian company-manufactured Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine.

Controlled by a computer, the machine produces a scale of efficiency, consistency and accuracy that is not possible to measure manually.

NDTV claimed that a team from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) confirmed that the consignment could be used by Pakistan for its nuclear programme.

Citing experts, the Indian publication claimed that the cargo would be useful in manufacturing essential components for Pakistan’s missile development programme.

Officials at Nhava Sheva port took the action after getting specific intelligence. The Indian security officials later halted and seized the consignment.

NDTV, while quoting unnamed officials, said that documents of the consignment showed the consigner as “Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd” and the consignee was “Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd” of Sialkot.

However, the investigation by the security agencies reportedly indicated that the cargo, weighing 22,180 kilogrammes, was shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and was meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan, the officials said.