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US indicts 5 Pakistanis over illegal exports for Pakistan nuclear program
Irfan Ali
16 January, 2020 01:38
US indicts 5 Pakistanis over illegal exports for Pakistan nuclear program. United States accused them of running an international network that purchased US products for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.
According to a federal grand jury indictment. between September 2014 and October 2019, the group operated an international network of front companies.
It added that group existed to acquire goods for a Pakistani group called the Advanced Engineering Research Organization and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission,
US indicts 5 Pakistanis
According to the indictment, the men transported the goods to Pakistan’s Advanced Engineering Research Organization and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission without export licenses.
The US media also quoted the Justice Department as announcing this.
Furthermore, it identified 38 illegal nuclear-related exports from 29 U.S. companies to Pakistan between September 2014 and October 2019.
Timing matters
However, timing of unsealing the old indictment matters much because Foreign Minister of Pakistan meets US officials today.
“The defendants smuggled US origin goods to entities that have been designated for years as threats to US national security for their ties to Pakistan’s weapons programs,” assistant attorney general John Demers said in a statement.
However, the five live outside the United States due to which US had not apprehended them. But, , the Justice Department said that a US grand jury indicted them in October.
They unsealed indictment on Wednesday and arrest warrants are pending.
The indictment charged with operating a front company called “Business World” in Rawalpindi. Pakistan.
They were identified as Muhammad Kamran Wali, 41, of Pakistan, Muhammad Ahsan Wali, 48, and Haji Wali Muhammad Sheikh, 82, both of Mississauga, Ontario, Ashraf Khan Muhammad of Hong Kong, and Ahmed Waheed, 52, of Ilford, England.
Meanwhile, the US charged them with conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act.
Moreover, the special agent with the Department of Homeland Security Jason Molina said that the alleged behavior of these five individuals presented more than a violation of US export laws.
“It posed a potential threat to the national security interests of the United States and to the delicate balance of power among nations within the region.”
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