The outgoing US administration Wednesday (Dec 19) slapped sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including one state-owned, in an action ‘targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.’ Mathew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, said the four agencies were involved in Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program.
Some of the organizations targeted by Washington DC on Wednesday include the Islambad-based National Development Complex (NDC). The agency has been said to play a central role in the development of Pakistan’s ballistic missiles.
NDC also leads the development of Shaheen-series ballistic missiles and procures special vehicle chassis and missile testing equipment to aid its mission.
In addition to targeting NDC, US sanctions specifically targeted Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, a third private company charged by the US with selling miscellaneous equipment to NDC “for its missile-related program.” Rockside Enterprise remained the third firm targeted by the US and was aimed at avoiding a “proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and prevent further destabilizing developments in the region.
Reacting to the US move, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it was an “unfortunate and biased” action. The statement added that the US move could undermine regional stability by “exacerbating military asymmetries.”
