US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI3220

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003220 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MNUC, KNNP, TSPA, ETTC, PK, IN, GOI, Missile Defense 
SUBJECT: INDIA DENIES UNLAWFUL IMPORT OF CONTROLLED 
EQUIPMENT FOR SPACE PROGRAM 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Following several articles in the international and 
Indian press, PolCouns queried  MEA Director, Disarmament and 
International Security (DISA), Venu Rajamony on April 26, 
about the GOI investigation of the case of Asher Karni, an 
Israeli businessman recently indicted in the US for unlawful 
exports to Pakistan and India.  Rajamony stated that he did 
not have any information to share beyond that which was 
included in the April 21 MEA press briefing (see text in para 
3), but confirmed that various Indian agencies have been 
investigating the Karni allegations. 
 
2.  (C) PolCouns raised concern about an April 24 article by 
a Tribune reporter close to MEA that stated that the GOI 
believes media reports of linkages between Karni and India's 
space program are a "smokescreen for Pakistan's nuclear 
proliferation and an attempt to deflect attention from 
Pakistan."  Rajamony dismissed the article, stating that he 
did not know to whom the article's author had spoken about 
the case. 
 
3.  (U) In an April 21 press briefing by MEA Spokesperson, 
the government specifically denied any linkages between this 
case and the Indian civilian space program, stating that the 
GOI have found no evidence of any procurement as reported in 
the press.  Full text follows: 
 
Question:  There have been some reports in the US media that 
an Israeli has been arrested for supplying some nuclear 
equipment to India? 
 
Answer:  We have seen those reports which are regarding 
prosecution of Asher Karni, an Israeli national in the US. 
There is a reference in these reports that Asher Karni may 
have sold advanced electronic equipment to government 
agencies in India.  It has also been mentioned that one 
Humtek Communications of Bangalore had sought to buy 
electrical components for the Space Applications Center 
through Asher Karni. 
 
We have examined these reports and have found no evidence of 
any procurement as reported in these news reports.  Space 
Applications Center has confirmed that no item has been 
procured from Humtek Communications.  Furthermore, the Space 
Applications Center is responsible for civilian space 
applications and does not work on rockets as mentioned in 
these reports. 
 
I may also reiterate that India's indigenous 
multi-dimensional space program has been developed in a 
transparent manner in order to utilize various space 
applications such as satellite communications, TV 
broadcasting, weather prediction and management of natural 
resources as well as disasters, so as to facilitate the 
overall social and economic development of India.  End GOI 
text. 
 
Ongoing Investigations 
---------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Stressing that the US and India have a shared 
interest in preventing proliferation, PolCouns suggested to 
Rajamony that Indian investigators work with Mission's Export 
Control Attache to facilitate their investigation about the 
matter.  According to the Export Control Attache, there is 
still an ongoing investigation of the parties involved. 
BLAKE