Seventy-three Indian organizations are among more than 360 private companies, varsity departments and government organisations in eight countries identified as having procured goods or technology for use in weapons of mass destruction programme, a media report said in London on Saturday.
The length of the list, compiled by Mi5, British internal intelligence agency, suggests that the arms trade supermarket
is bigger than has so far been publicly realized.
Mi5 warns against exports to organisations in India, Iran, Pakistan, Israel, Syria and Egypt and to beware of front companies in the United Arab Emirates, which appears to be a hub for the trade, the 'Guardian' daily reported.
The 17-page document identifies 95 Pakistani organizations and government bodies, including the Pakistan High Commission in London, as having assisted in the country's nuclear programme.
The list was compiled two years ago, shortly after the security service mounted a surveillance at the high commission, which is the only diplomatic institution on the list.
Abdul Basit, the deputy high commissioner, said, "It is absolute rubbish for Pakistan to be included. We take exception to these links."
The disclosure of the list comes as the Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the United Nations watchdog responsible for combating proliferation.
The Mi5 document, titled 'Companies and Organisations of Proliferation Concern,' has been compiled in an attempt to prevent British companies inadvertently exporting sensitive goods or expertise to organizations covertly involved in WMD programmes.
Despite the large number of bodies identified, the document says the list is not exhaustive.
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