Pakistan slams 'unfair' US sanctions, warns of threats to stability
3 Min Read
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the recent US sanctions on Karachi-based private firms, describing them as "baseless".
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A nuclear-capable Pakistani Shaheen-III missile is carried on a trailer during a military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 25, 2021. (AP)
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry criticized, on Thursday, the recent US sanctions imposed on four Pakistani firms for their alleged involvement in the country’s ballistic missile program, labeling them as "biased" and a threat to "regional and international peace."
The statement followed the US announcement of sanctions on four entities allegedly contributing to the proliferation or delivery of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). These include the National Development Complex (NDC) in Islamabad and three Karachi-based companies: Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise.
The Ministry expressed disappointment, stating, “Pakistan considers the US decision to impose sanctions on NDC and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased.” It argued that such actions undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes and “endanger regional and international peace and security.”
It also reaffirmed that Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are designed to "defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia." It criticized the sanctions for exacerbating military imbalances in the region, stressing that they “defy the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries” and carry “dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”
MoFA highlights US double standards in non-proliferation policies
Addressing the sanctions on the Karachi-based private firms, the Foreign Ministry lamented that “similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere doubts and suspicion without any evidence whatsoever.” It further noted that while the US claims adherence to non-proliferation norms, it has previously waived licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries.
It also emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s strategic program, describing it as a "sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership." It asserted, “The sanctity of this trust, held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised.”
The big picture
This development follows earlier sanctions imposed by the US in September on a Chinese research institute and several companies allegedly supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. At the time, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated Pakistan’s status as a “long-term partner” but emphasized that the US would not hesitate to impose sanctions on allies to protect its interests. He remarked, “When such disagreements arise, we won’t hesitate to act to protect America’s interests.”
In April, Pakistan had similarly rejected what it called the "political use of export controls" after the US sanctioned four entities—three Chinese and one Belarusian—for allegedly supplying missile-related items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
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