Pakistan Rues US Sanctions On Four Companies Providing Technology To Its Missile Program – “Political Use Of…”
After the US imposed sanctions on four companies for providing missile-applicable products to the financially challenged nation’s ballistic missile projects, which include its long-range missile development, Pakistan voiced indignation on Saturday.
Sanctions have been imposed by the US on Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Belarus, Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade, and Granpect Co. Ltd. from China.
A spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, stated on Friday that these organizations “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 ballistic missile of Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign ministry released a statement saying, “Such listings of commercial entities have taken place in the past as well on allegations of links to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program without sharing any evidence whatsoever.” “We have often said that these kinds of products have acceptable civil business applications. Therefore, it’s critical to avoid applying export restrictions arbitrarily. In order to achieve socioeconomic growth, there is a need for talks amongst the relevant stakeholders over an objective system to guarantee access to technology.
Pakistan accused the US of “political use of export controls,” claiming that export controls were used discriminatorily. It is a fact that several nations have had their advanced military technology license requirements waived by the same authorities that claim to implement stringent non-proliferation restrictions. As a result, there is an increase in armaments, which accentuates regional disparities and threatens regional and international peace and security goals as well as non-proliferation.
China is an arms supplier
The US is dedicated to bolstering the international nonproliferation framework, according to the State Department, which said earlier that steps would be taken to interfere with procurement networks that support proliferation activities of concern. China, Pakistan’s all-weather partner, has been the primary provider of weapons and defense hardware for Islamabad’s massive military modernization initiative.
Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program received a unique vehicle chassis from Belarus’ Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. According to a State Department Factsheet, Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is in charge of developing Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles, uses such chassis as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles.
Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program received equipment from China’s Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, including a filament winding machine. The US claimed that the missiles were intended for Pakistan’s National Defense College (NDC). Rocket motor casings may be made using filament winding machines.
Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program received equipment related to missiles from Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co., Ltd. This equipment included stir welding equipment (which the US believes can be used to make propellant tanks for space launch vehicles) and a linear accelerator system (which the US believes can be used to inspect solid rocket motors).
The US State Department said that Tianjin Creative’s purchases were probably intended for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is in charge of creating the country’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles. Granpect Company supplied large-diameter rocket motor testing equipment in collaboration with SUPARCO of Pakistan. Furthermore, Granpect Co. Ltd. endeavored to provide Pakistan’s NDC with apparatus for evaluating large-diameter rocket motors.
