The United States has reiterated its longstanding policy of denying support to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme through sanctions and other measures, emphasizing national security concerns. During a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller underscored Washington’s commitment to protecting its financial system from being exploited by entities involved in missile proliferation.
Responding to questions about the recent US sanctions, which Islamabad has labeled “biased and politically motivated,” Miller acknowledged Pakistan’s status as a long-term partner of the US but emphasized that disagreements between the two nations would not prevent Washington from acting in its own interests. He stated, “When we have disagreements, we won’t hesitate to act on those to protect America’s interests,” reaffirming the US stance on nonproliferation.
Miller highlighted that the US would continue to employ sanctions and other tools to ensure that its national security is safeguarded, especially by preventing proliferators from accessing the US financial system.
The latest sanctions come in the wake of US action targeting Pakistan’s missile programme. In October 2023, Washington imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-related items to Pakistan. According to the State Department, the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had assisted Pakistan in procuring equipment to test rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel missile systems, potentially for larger systems.
Additionally, China-based companies such as Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, and Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment were also sanctioned for their involvement in transferring missile technology.
The US spokesperson further clarified that the sanctions imposed were part of a broader effort to strengthen the international nonproliferation regime, targeting networks that support activities of proliferation concern. He pointed out that the recent actions followed the designation of several Chinese entities, a Belarusian entity, and others involved in Pakistan’s missile programme under the US Commerce Department’s Entity List in earlier sanctions imposed in 2023 and 2024.
This move reflects Washington’s continued focus on limiting the spread of missile technology and ensuring that global nonproliferation standards are maintained.
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