What's new

Pak citizen indicted for trying to smuggle drones for Pak Army

Status
Not open for further replies.

jaiind

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
2,399
Reaction score
-23
Country
India
Location
Russian Federation
Washington, Jan 8: A Pakistani national has been indicted by a US court for trying to smuggle high-end military -grade drones for the Pakistan Army by using a Lahore-based shell company. The individual identified as Syed Vaqar Ashraf, charged on nine counts, transferred more than USD 62,000 to a US company in different money transfers from Pakistan between 2012 and 2014, towards the purchase of a series of high-end drones –with an estimated cost of more than USD 340,000, according to court documents. While the court case has been going on for more than a year now, a US court in Phoenix unsealed the documents including federal complaint and indictment on January 6 The 14-page superseding indictment was filed before the court in December last year. Court officials said Ashraf has been arrested in Brussels about a year ago and extradited to the United States some four months ago. His last court appearance was on December 23, during which he pleaded not guilty. There was no immediate response from the Pakistan Embassy here. According to the indictment, Ashraf was the CEO of Lahore-based I&E International. Federal prosecutors alleged that this was a front company for the Pakistan Advanced Engineering Research Organisation (AERO), based in Lahore. Ashraf placed orders to a Arizona-based drone company for high-end military-grade drones. The Arizona company – not named in the indictment – specialised in the design, development and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for the US military. Federal prosecutors claim that Ashraf placed orders through emails for purchase of specific gyroscopes including eight VG34-0803 which is designed for medium size, multi- payload UAC designed for tactical long endurance missions, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance and communication relay. He also placed orders for 10 Memsic VG800CA-200 Low Drift MEMS Vertical Gyros, which has a military and non-military applications and is used to increase stability inside a UAV. Both the items come under export control of the US Government. These models, capable of flying more than 20 hours, were designed for Israel and is used for reconnaissance . The total cost of these military hardware was nearly USD 3,45,000, for which he made an advancement payment of USD 62,000 in five wire transfers. According to court documents, Ashraf concealed to the representative of the US-based drone company – who was in fact an official of Homeland Security department– about the actual reason for his purchase of such equipment. When the officials from the US drone company told Ashraf that this equipment could not be shipped directly to Pakistan, Ashraf gave them a Brussels address. "Ashraf requested that Person A (from the US drone company) transship the modules to Pakistan, through Belgium," the indictment said. Federal prosecutors alleged that Ashraf filled out fraudulent documents in the name of Innovative Links, a shell company used by him. But he was purchasing these for AERO, which is in fact a wing of the Pakistan military, prosecutors said. According to court documents, Ashraf told the undercover agent that his client was in fact the Pakistani military. The trial is scheduled for February 7.
 
.
Why all the subterfuge to get American Drones when they have already got tech from the Chinese
 
.
Drones are hardly "high tech" and there is no ban on Pakistan for Research material for aeronautical engineering research

The man openly stated he is purchasing for client who may be Pakistan army , however since their is no UN ban on Pakistan I would imagine its a case if wrong identity because drones and technology is illegal to transfer to Iran and not Pakistan

Pakistan is not on any list of banned countries for any thing

Pakistan should inquire why its Citizen is being harassed for purchasing a minor drone

If we are on a BAN list this should be discussed at highest level!! Because we have not violated any UN Resolution nor do we have any sanctions against us

US companies (Some) have active ban on North Korea / Iran , or Sudan.

However they do not stop transfer of items to Pakistan , specially since we are in the Good books

Our Engineers are participant in CERN, and our local companies cannot import a mediocre drone ?
 
Last edited:
.
while USA offer us many time to buy from them :partay:
 
. .
I dnt get it. Pakistan already has quite sophisticated drones which are of military version. While US has already agreed to supply us much advanced drones, Military equipment in US is strictly export controlled and even US citizen can not send them beyond the US border without permission, not even the private security companies working for US govt.
 
.
OR we can order from Israel...
 
.
Seems like someone is taking inspiration from China.:agree:
 
. .
I think, these type of gyroscopes can also be used in improving missile targeting accuracy!!!
 
.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom