Find Out What Was Provided When the US Sanctioned Four Companies for Supporting Pakistan’s Missile Programme

On Friday, the US State Department sanctioned three Chinese and one Belarussian business for providing Pakistan with the necessary parts for ballistic missiles, including the country’s long-range missile program. Sanctions have been given to Belarus’ Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, China’s Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade, and Granpect Co. Ltd.

Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program received unique vehicle chassis from the Belarusian business Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. The National Development Complex (NDC) of Pakistan, which is in charge of developing ballistic missiles classified as Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I, uses these chassis as launch support equipment.

According to a US State Department brief, the NDC received missile-related equipment from the Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, including a filament winding machine.

Rocket motor casings are made using filament winding machines. The other Chinese company, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd., provided linear accelerator systems that the US believes are used to inspect solid rocket motors and stir welding equipment that the US claims can be used to make propellant tanks for use in space launch vehicles.

Tianjin Creative’s purchases were probably intended for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), according to the US state government. Ballistic missiles of the Pakistani MTCR Category I are developed and manufactured by SUPARCO.

Granpect Company collaborated with SUPARCO in Pakistan to provide large-diameter rocket motor testing equipment, and it also provided Pakistan’s NDC with the same equipment.

According to Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the State Department, these businesses either directly or indirectly contributed to the spread of WMDs or their delivery systems, including Pakistan’s attempts to produce, obtain, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such weapons.

According to the US State Department, efforts to interfere with procurement networks that facilitate proliferation activities of concern are part of the department’s ongoing commitment to fortifying the international nonproliferation framework.

China has been a reliable friend of Pakistan for many years, having provided armaments and defense hardware for the country’s military modernization program in Islamabad.