- State Department targets four entities with sanctions.
- The United States says it will continue to act against proliferation.
- Decision taken in light of the “persistent threat of proliferation”.
WASHINGTON: The United States announced Wednesday that it is imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, targeting four entities it says contribute to the proliferation or delivery of such weapons.
“The United States will continue to take action against proliferation and related procurement activities of concern,” the US State Department said in a statement.
The statement, posted on the State Department’s website, said the decision was made “in light of the continuing threat of proliferation related to Pakistan’s long-range missile development.”
He added that the four entities were designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
“The Pakistan National Development Complex – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and has worked to acquire elements to advance Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to provide equipment and missile components to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program – are designated pursuant to EO 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for engaging or attempting to engage in activities or transactions that have materially contributed, or present a risk of materially contributing, to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of carrying such weapons), including any effort to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items by Pakistan,” the statement read.
In September this year, Washington targeted with sanctions five entities and one individual involved in ballistic missile expansion and control of missile equipment and technology in Pakistan.
Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the Beijing Machine-Building Industry Automation Research Institute had worked with Pakistan to acquire equipment to test rocket engines for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems.
However, Pakistan has categorically rejected “unilateral” US sanctions against technology companies allegedly linked to the country’s ballistic missile program, calling them “unjust, unfounded and unjustified.”
“Pakistan considers this action to be biased and politically motivated. In the past, similar lists of trading entities were based on mere suspicion; they involved items that were not included in any export control regime and yet were considered to be sensitive under broad and catch-all provisions,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), had said.
Similarly, the United States – in October 2023 – imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying Pakistan with missile components.
The sanctions also affected Chinese companies Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co. Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national were sanctioned for knowingly transferring equipment under restrictions related to missile technology.