ISLAMABAD — On Thursday, Pakistan expressed strong disapproval of the recent sanctions imposed by the United States on its ballistic missile program, deeming them “discriminatory” and a threat to both regional peace and security.
The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan issued a statement highlighting that these sanctions have serious implications for the strategic stability of not just the region but also beyond. The ministry questioned U.S. claims that specific businesses were engaged in the proliferation of weaponry, citing a history of previous sanctions that were based solely on unsubstantiated doubts rather than concrete evidence.
Moreover, Pakistan accused the United States of applying “double standards” by lifting licensing requirements for advanced military technology for other nations while imposing sanctions on Islamabad.
These newly designated sanctions effectively freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the implicated businesses and prohibit American entities from conducting any business dealings with them. Among the entities sanctioned is the National Development Complex, located in Islamabad, which the U.S. State Department alleges is involved in developing Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile capabilities, including the SHAHEEN series.
Additional entities under sanction include Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International, and Rockside Enterprise. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the U.S. stance on proliferation concerns and stated that they would keep engaging constructively with Pakistan on these matters.
The sanctions have also drawn criticism from the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned. Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan, utilized the social platform X to voice opposition to the sanctions, specifically regarding the National Development Complex and the associated commercial entities.
These sanctions followed earlier measures imposed on various foreign entities, including a Chinese research organization, for allegedly collaborating with the National Development Complex, which the U.S. has accused of being integral to the development and production of Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missiles.
Experts believe that Pakistan’s missile and nuclear program largely serves to counter potential threats from its neighboring rival, India. Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali criticized the sanctions as “short-sighted, destabilizing, and disconnected from the strategic realities of South Asia.”
In 1998, Pakistan declared itself a nuclear power by performing underground nuclear tests, a response to similar tests carried out by India, its long-standing rival. Since that time, both countries have consistently tested their various missile systems, which include short, medium, and long-range capabilities.
Pakistan and India have been embroiled in conflicts over the Kashmir region, resulting in two of their three wars since both nations gained independence from British rule in 1947. This contested region remains divided between the two countries, both of which lay claim to it in its entirety.
