US sanctions: Pakistan denounces ‘political use’ of export controls

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rebuffed the “political use” of export control measures following the United States’ imposition of sanctions on four entities allegedly providing “missile-applicable items” to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme.

Speaking at a press briefing, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that Islamabad lacked information regarding the specifics of the recent US measures. She added that in the past, they had encountered numerous instances where listings were based solely on suspicion or where items, though not on any control lists, were considered sensitive under catch-all provisions.

Read more: US blacklists four companies for supplying missile parts to Pakistan

The US has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and one from Belarus for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programmes, including its long-range missile programme.

“The entities we are designating today, Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant; Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited; Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd; and Granpect Co. Ltd., have engaged 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 any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan,” the US State Department said.

The United States, in close cooperation with other partners, is committed to strengthening the global non-proliferation regime by deterring and disrupting proliferation networks of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) wherever they occur, the statement said.