Washington has sanctioned Islamabad over missile improvement, citing issues about long-range proliferation dangers
The US has imposed sanctions on a number of Pakistani entities, together with the state-owned Nationwide Improvement Complicated (NDC), over their alleged involvement within the improvement of long-range ballistic missiles.
Introduced earlier this week by the State Division, the sanctions goal the NDC, which it claims is instrumental within the improvement of the Shaheen collection of ballistic missiles.
The measures embrace asset freezes and bans on transactions with US entities. US President Joe Biden’s Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor Jon Finer, talking at an occasion on Thursday, underscored issues over Pakistan’s advancing missile know-how.
He said that the developments in long-range ballistic methods may probably pose a risk to the US. Finer added that Islamabad’s rising capabilities increase “critical questions” about its intentions, notably concerning the acquisition of superior rocket-motor testing gear.
US State Division spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned Wednesday on X that the US had “been clear and constant about our issues” concerning weapons proliferation.
He added that Washington would “proceed to interact constructively with Pakistan on these points.”
Along with the NDC, three Karachi-based entities – Akhtar and Sons Non-public Restricted, Associates Worldwide, and Rockside Enterprise – have additionally been sanctioned for his or her alleged roles in supporting Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
These sanctions comply with related measures imposed earlier this yr on different overseas entities, together with a Chinese language analysis institute. The US State Division had accused them of working for the NDC in creating Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile capabilities.
Pakistan maintains that its missile improvement is defensive and vital for sustaining regional stability. The nation’s Ministry of International Affairs condemned the punitive measures as groundless, warning that they “have harmful implications for strategic stability of our area and past.”
It additional accused the US of “double requirements” for waiving licensing necessities for superior navy know-how to different nations.
The sanctions have been additionally opposed by the celebration of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for Khan, criticized the Biden administration on X, stating, “We strongly oppose US sanctions on the Nationwide Improvement Complicated and three business entities.”
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