S E C R E T NEW DELHI 000760

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/MTR JOHN PAUL HERRMANN, ISN AND SCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCRE KSCA IR IN
SUBJECT: INDIA CONTINUES TO PURSUE NICKUNJ GRAPHITE CASE

REF: SECSTATE 23763

Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)

(S) PolOffs delivered reftel points March 12 to Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) Director for Disarmament and
International Security (DISA) Jayant Khobragade, who stated
that the Government of India (GOI) continued to look into the
matter of the Nickunj Graphite case. Though he had nothing
new to report, he indicated that the GOI would produce a
reply to the reftel points soon, assuring PolOffs that the
GOI was diligently pursuing the case. Khobragade thanked
PolOffs for the new information regarding the Sahand Aluminum
Parts Industrial Company's (SAPICO) involvement as a cover
for the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), and indicated
that it would help the government's case.
MULFORD