—— Washington says sanctioned entities “contributing to proliferation or delivery of such weapons”
—— Islamabad has objected to existing US sanctions and opposed the new one
DM Monitoring
WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday said it was imposing additional sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, targeting four entities that it said were contributing to the pro-liferation or delivery of such weapons.
“The United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern,” the US Department of State said in a statement.
The statement, issued on the State Department’s website, said that the decision was taken “in light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development”.
It added that the four entities were being designated for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targeted proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. “Pakistan’s National Development Complex – which is responsible for Pakistan’s ballistic missile pro-gram and has worked to acquire items to advance Pakistan’s long range ballistic missile program – and Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – which have worked to supply equipment and missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long range missile program – are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 Section 1(a)(ii) for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such items, by Pakistan,” read the statement.
