The US has reaffirmed that it will not assist Pakistan in developing ballistic missiles, upholding its unwavering position against the creation and spread of deadly weapons.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “We have been clear and consistent about our concerns with Pakistan’s ballistic missile program for many years.”

“We will keep using our sanctions and other tools to ensure that our national security cannot be impacted and that proliferators cannot use the US financial system. It has been our longstanding policy to deny support to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program,”

Although the US keeps a careful eye on Pakistan’s missile development, the official stated that the US still views Pakistan as a close ally. Miller stated, “We have been partners with Pakistan for a long time, and I think this action shows that there are still areas where we disagree, and when we disagree, we won’t hesitate to act on those to protect America’s interests.”

The US treats India’s long-range missile program differently even if it opposes Pakistan’s missile program. Neither India nor Pakistan have ratified the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). While India continues to modernise its arsenal of ballistic weapons as a deterrent against China, Islamabad’s missile program primarily acts as a deterrent against New Delhi.

Recently, the State Department also sanctioned three Chinese corporations, a Chinese individual, and a Chinese research institute for allegedly helping to disseminate deadly weaponry. Miller emphasised that Pakistan was purportedly supported by the Chinese institute in obtaining equipment for its missile systems, Shaheen 3 and Ababeel.

In the past, the US State Department placed sanctions on a Chinese research centre and a number of businesses it claimed were providing supplies to Pakistan for its ballistic missile program.

In October 2023, Washington imposed sanctions on three Chinese businesses that were supplying Pakistan with components that may be used for missiles.

The Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry collaborated with Pakistan to acquire equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems, as well as possibly for larger systems, according to a statement released by the department’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller.

According to Miller, the sanctions also targeted Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment, a Chinese national, and the Chinese companies Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co., Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co. for wilfully transferring equipment that was restricted by missile technology. “The United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur, as demonstrated by today’s actions,” Miller declared.

In response, Pakistan said on Saturday that it was well known that “some countries have conveniently waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies to their favoured states, while claiming strict adherence to nonproliferation norms.” It went on, “Such discriminatory practices and double standards increase military asymmetries, undermine the credibility of global nonproliferation regimes, and endanger international peace and security.”