Pakistan’s missile program under more curbs from US
FO termed US decision as unfortunate and biased
The United States on Wednesday said it was imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it alleged were contributing to the proliferation or delivery of such weapons.
“The United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern,” the US Department of State said in a statement.
It added that the decision was taken “in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development”.
It said the four entities were being designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
“Pakistan’s National Development Complex — which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme — and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise — which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme — are being designated pursuant to EO 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items by Pakistan.”
In September, the State Department imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it claimed were involved in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme.
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller had said in a statement that the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems.
Washington had similarly targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan.
Meanwhile Islamabad termed the decision as “biased” stressing that the step from the US has “dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond”.
“Pakistan considers the US decision to impose sanctions on NDC and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased,” the country’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement on Thursday.
“Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”
The Foreign Office stressed that the county’s strategic programme is a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership, adding that the sanctity of this trust, held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised.
“We also regret the imposition of sanctions on private commercial entities,” the statement remarked.
