WASHINGTON, July 3: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has identified India and Pakistan among eight countries active in acquisitions relating to weapons of mass destruction and four countries as key suppliers between July and December, 1996.

The countries engaged in acquisitions, besides India and Pakistan, are Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea and Syria, the CIA said in a report to the Congress about the countries acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Advanced Chemical Warfare (ACW) during the reporting period.

``We chose to exclude countries that already have substantial ACW and WMD programmes such as China and Russia, as well as countries of lower priority that demonstrated little acquisition activity of concern,'' the report said.According to the CIA, the key supplying countries include China, Russia, North Korea and Germany.

India is also shown as a supplier of poison gas equipment to Iran while the US is shown as a country from which Pakistan attempted to get nuclear weapon-related goods.

Iran is mentioned as an important supplier of Scud missile-related equipment and materials. Referring to India, the CIA report claimed that it ``sought a ballistic missile programme'' during the reporting period from a variety of sources. ``It also sought nuclear-related items, some of which may have been intended for its nuclear weapons programme,'' the claim added.

Regarding Pakistan, it said it was very aggressive in seeking out equipment, material for its nuclear weapons programme, with China as its principal supplier. ``Pakistan also sought a wide variety of nuclear-related goods from many western nations, including the United States,'' it said adding that China also was a major supplier to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, providing technology and assistance. ``Pakistan has made strong efforts to acquire an indigenous capability in missile production technologies,'' the report said.

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