India wary of China arms firm’s invite to Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s invitation to China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) to ostensibly help Islamabad in energy infrastructure development has raised eyebrows in South Block given the company’s alleged involvement in supplies to India’s northeast insurgent groups.

One of the largest state run companies, NORINCO makes toys to short range ballistic missiles and was sanctioned by Bush administration in 2003 for missile related supplies to Iran.

India formally raised the NORINCO issue with China and asked it to desist from dabbling in the northeast.

NORINCO chairman Wang Yitong met PM Sharif in Islamabad last Friday and invited him to tap solar energy in Baluchistan and set up new power plants in Thar, Baluchistan and Punjab.

Pakistan watchers say that NORINCO is looking beyond infrastructure development and is poised to supply A-100 multi-rocket launchers to Islamabad.