On December 18, 2024, the United States, "in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan's long-range missile development," announced sanctions against four military entities in Pakistan.[1] The new sanctions have sparked strong reactions in Pakistan, which prides itself as the first and only nuclear power state among Islamic nations.
Announcing the sanctions, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that "the United States is designating four entities for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery."[2] These are additional sanctions on Pakistan's ballistic missile program.
Pakistan's ballistic missiles in a military parade in Islamabad (image: Armscontrol.org)
In April 2024, the U.S. sanctioned a group of Belarusian and Chinese companies for supplying materials for use in Pakistan's ballistic missile program. These firms included Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, a Belarus-based company supplying special vehicle chassis that are "used as launch support for equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan's National Development Complex (NDC)."[3]
The sanctioned Chinese firms included: Xi'an Longde Technology Development Co., which "supplied missile-related equipment, including a filament winding machine, to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program"; Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co., which supplied missile-related equipment, including stir welding equipment that "can be used to manufacture propellant tanks used in space launch vehicles" and "a linear accelerator system" that "can be used in the inspection of solid rocket motors;" and Granpect Co., which "worked with Pakistan's SUPARCO to supply equipment for testing of large diameter rocket motors," and supplied "equipment for testing large diameter rocket motors" to NDC.[4]
The December 18 sanctions are directly against Pakistani military firms and private companies connected to the ballistic missile program of Pakistan. A fact-sheet released by the State Department identified the four sanctioned entities:[5]
"1. The National Development Complex (NDC), located in Islamabad, Pakistan, has worked to acquire items in furtherance of Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program – including special vehicle chassis intended to be used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles and missile testing equipment. The United States assesses NDC is responsible for Pakistan's development of ballistic missiles, including the SHAHEEN-series ballistic missiles.
"2. Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, located in Karachi, Pakistan, has worked for NDC to supply a range of equipment to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program.
"3. Affiliates International, located in Karachi, Pakistan, has facilitated procurements of missile-applicable items for NDC and others in support of Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
"4. Rockside Enterprise, located in Karachi, Pakistan, has worked for NDC to supply a range of equipment to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program."
The location of National Defense Complex – map courtesy: NTI.org
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar tweeted a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing the U.S. of applying a double standard, noting that Washington has not noted India's missile program. "It is regrettable that the U.S. Official alluded to bracketing Pakistan with those who are perceived to be in an adversarial relationship with the U.S. While ignoring and shielding the manifestations of a much more potent missile capability in our eastern neighbourhood [i.e., India], concerns on Pakistani capabilities are being raised seemingly at the behest of others to further accentuate the already fragile strategic stability in the region," the statement noted.[6]
The foreign ministry statement resolved to uphold the country's ballistic missile program, stating: "We wish to reiterate that Pakistan's strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia. Pakistan cannot abdicate its right to develop capabilities that commensurate with the need to maintain credible minimum deterrence as well as evolving and dynamic threats."[7]
It appears from the text of the statement that the U.S., before imposing the new sanctions, had been raising concerns about the ballistic nuclear program for more than a decade. "Since 2012 when the U.S. officials started broaching the subject, different Pakistani governments, leadership and officials, have endeavored from time to time, to positively address and remove the misplaced U.S. concerns. Moreover, Pakistan has also made it abundantly clear that our strategic program and allied capabilities are solely meant to deter and thwart a clear and visible existential threat from our neighbourhood [i.e., India]," it said.[8]
Another statement from the foreign ministry, tweeted by Ishaq Dar immediately after the sanctions were announced, stated: "The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries. Such policies have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond."[9]
Describing Pakistan's strategic program as "a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people" upon the Pakistani leadership, the statement also stated: "We also regret the imposition of sanctions on private commercial entities. Similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere doubts and suspicion without any evidence whatsoever. While claiming strict adherence to non-proliferation norms, licensing requirement[s] for advanced military technology to other countries have been waived off in the past."[10]
Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan
In the days after the U.S. sanctions were announced, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made several statements, identical to Dar's, to the press. According to a report in the Urdu daily Roznama Mashriq of December 24, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan's security decisions will be made by the nation without external pressure, adding that the U.S. sanctions will have no impact on Pakistan's defense program.[11] According to a report in the Urdu daily Roznama Jang of December 22, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the U.S. sanctions, accusing the United States of having a longstanding policy of not supporting Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program.[12]
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dismissed the American sanctions as unjustified, saying that "there will be no compromise on Pakistan's nuclear program."[13] Speaking at a meeting of the federal cabinet, Sharif vowed to foil "conspiracies" against Pakistan, stating: "Pakistan's defense system is not for aggression, but for defense. Pakistan will continue to take strong steps for its defense. There is no justification for sanctions on the National Defense Complex and other institutions. [We] will not allow the despicable conspiracies against Pakistan to succeed."[14]
"One point is certain that Pakistan's atomic program belongs to 240 million people of Pakistan, who consider it dear to their heart. There will be no compromise on this. The entire nation stands by this program and is united fully on it," the Pakistani prime minister declared.[15] Pakistan's ballistic missile programme is for defending itself "if God forbid there is aggression against Pakistan," Sharif added.[16]
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
Speaking at a press conference, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, criticized the U.S. for the sanctions, saying: "America itself has used missile [sic] on Hiroshima and now is providing support worth billions of dollars to Israel for genocide... America used the pretext of atomic weapons to massacre hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq."[17]
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, who heads Pakistan's largest religious organization, added: "In addition to Iraq, America massacred hundreds of thousands of people in Vietnam and Afghanistan... America, the killer of hundreds of thousands of people, is today talking of imposing sanctions on our private companies."[18]
Urdu-language Islamist daily Roznama Islam ran an editorial criticizing U.S. sanctions and warning that American pressure could further destabilize Pakistan. It stated: "Insofar as America's outbursts about Pakistan's missile program, this is not something new. In the past too, Pakistan had to face sanctions following its nuclear tests [in 1998]. However, Pakistan has not compromised on its nuclear capability and missile technology power. And the American step [sanctions] also cannot prevent Pakistan from nurturing its defense capability."[19]
The editorial raised many issues regarding American policies regarding Palestine and Israel, the rights of the gay community, and the promotion of violence worldwide, among others. "A state [U.S.], which instigates a war of norms and ideologies in human society by promoting violence and homosexuality in the entire world, is trying to interfere in Pakistan's internal matters. These points can be gauged from the American-made weapons in the possession of terrorists, assistance given to them in the form of dollars, and attempts to keep Pakistan conflicted in instability with the aid of India," the editorial said.[20]
Pakistan's Shaheen-III missiles in a military parade in Islamabad, 2016.
The daily Pakistan Observer criticized the U.S. for targeting Pakistan. It said in an editorial: "The way the United States is frequently targeting different Pakistani and Chinese entities on allegations of their involvement in nuclear and missile proliferation clearly shows utter bias of the superpower against Pakistan, forcing analysts to conclude that Washington wants to undermine defense and security of the country."[21]
"The U.S. continues to send highly negative signals to the people of Pakistan, who want to expand the relationship with the United States," the editorial said, expressing concern that Pakistan's nuclear program will lack deterrence without a ballistic missile program, stating: "It is quite obvious that nuclear deterrence will not be fully effective if there were no credible means of delivery with capacity to reach all parts of India and therefore, Pakistan's quest to modernize its deterrence is understandable. Sanctions did not work in the past and are unlikely to serve any worthwhile purpose."[22]
[1] State.Gov (U.S.), December 18, 2024.
[2] State.Gov (U.S.), December 18, 2024.
[3] MEMRI Special Dispatches Series No. 11300, Editorials In Pakistani Dailies Denounce U.S. Sanctions On Belarusian And Chinese Firms Linked To Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program: 'Another Major Demonstration Of America's Imperialist Behavior'; U.S. Is 'Painting Pakistan As An Underhand Producer Of Missiles'; 'As For The West, There Are Indeed Double Standards And Hypocrisy', April 29, 2024.
[4] MEMRI Special Dispatches Series No. 11300, Editorials In Pakistani Dailies Denounce U.S. Sanctions On Belarusian And Chinese Firms Linked To Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program: 'Another Major Demonstration Of America's Imperialist Behavior'; U.S. Is 'Painting Pakistan As An Underhand Producer Of Missiles'; 'As For The West, There Are Indeed Double Standards And Hypocrisy', April 29, 2024.
[5] State.Gov (U.S.), December 18, 2024.
[6] X.com/MIshaqDar50, December 21, 2024.
[7] X.com/MIshaqDar50, December 21, 2024.
[8] X.com/MIshaqDar50, December 21, 2024.
[9] Thenews.com.pk (Pakistan), December 19, 2024.
[10] Thenews.com.pk (Pakistan), December 19, 2024.
[11] Roznama Mashriq (Pakistan), December 24, 2024.
[12] Roznama Jang (Pakistan), December 22, 2024.
[13] Roznama Dunya (Pakistan), December 24, 2024.
[14] Roznama Dunya (Pakistan), December 24, 2024.
[15] Roznama Dunya (Pakistan), December 24, 2024.
[16] Dawn.com (Pakistan), December 24, 2024.
[17] Roznama Jang (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.
[18] Roznama Jang (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.
[19] Roznama Islam (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.
[20] Roznama Islam (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.
[21] Pakistan Observer (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.
[22] Pakistan Observer (Pakistan), December 20, 2024.