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Publication: www.sify.com
Date: December 10, 2001
Bangalore, Dec 10 - The Karnataka
government has despatched a team of officials to a Chinese IT facility
here to investigate reports that it had developed equipment for the Taliban
in Afghanistan, an official said Monday. "We have sent officials of the
Software Technology Parks of India to investigate the report," said Vivek
Kulkarni, Karnataka's secretary of Information Technology.
"The team will submit an official
report later Monday to the Ministry of Information Technology," Kulkarni
said. The Software Technology Parks of India is an autonomous body under
the IT ministry.
The Hindustan Times daily reported
Monday that the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by Home Minister
L K Advani, may deport 185 engineers of Bangalore-based Chinese firm Huawei
Technologies Ltd. for allegedly helping the Taliban to upgrade their telecommunication
network.
"The government has also got credible
information that the company helped Iraq improve its military communication
systems," the daily quoted top official sources as saying.
The daily said the committee was
expected to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
when he returns from Japan.
Huawei Technologies set up its Bangalore
research and development centre, the largest software development center
outside China, in February this year. The facility is currently doing research
in telecommunications and networking solutions, especially third generation
(3G) systems. Huawei has so far invested eight million dollars in the center
and employs 280 software engineers.
The Economic Times said Huawei had
brought in 185 telecom engineers from China in September on six-month visas
to ensure total secrecy in the project. "The company was completing the
project under contract, which now turns out was from the Taliban," it said.
The national daily said not only
could India deport the IT professionals, it may further tighten foreign
direct investment (FDI) norms from neighbouring countries. "Already, investment
proposals from unknown Chinese and Sri Lankan companies are being rejected
on the external affairs ministry's recommendations," the daily said.
