US Sanctions Target Pakistan's Missile Program
The US State Department has imposed new sanctions on Pakistan's missile program, specifically targeting the National Development Corporation and three associated companies. This action is part of an executive order aimed at producers of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. The sanctions freeze any assets of the targeted entities within the United States and prohibit American businesses from engaging with them.
Islamabad's Response to the Sanctions
In response, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions as unfortunate and biased, arguing that they threaten regional stability by emphasizing military disparities, particularly in the context of the ongoing rivalry with India. The sanctions are seen as detrimental to peace efforts in the region, as both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers.
Background on Pakistan's Missile Capabilities
The National Development Complex, based in Islamabad, is responsible for developing Pakistan's ballistic missile capabilities, including the Shaheen missile series, which can carry nuclear warheads. Pakistan, which conducted its first nuclear test in 1998, is estimated to possess around 170 nuclear warheads according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Previous sanctions imposed by the US in April targeted foreign entities linked to Pakistan's missile development, further straining relations between the two countries.
