Concerned about the possible threat to U.S. national security, the United States has reaffirmed its long-standing stance of refusing help to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. The National Development Complex (NDC), which is in charge of creating ballistic missiles like the SHAHEEN series, is one of four Pakistani organizations involved in the missile program that have recently been sanctioned by the United States.
According to U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Pakistan’s missile technological breakthroughs pose a “emerging threat,” meaning that they may allow for attacks outside of South Asia, possibly even against the United States. He emphasized that if present patterns persist, Pakistan may acquire capabilities that directly jeopardize American interests.
The new restrictions forbid American companies from doing business with the targeted firms and freeze any U.S. assets. The U.S. State Department used worries about these groups’ proliferative operations as justification for these sanctions.
The penalties were denounced as “discriminatory” by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, which also cautioned about the consequences for regional stability. They said that prior penalties lacked sufficient proof and attacked the United States for using unfair criteria when it came to military technology licensing.
Particularly after Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests and its continued rivalry with India, the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has been complicated, marked by both cooperative and tense moments. Although it has long been a vital military ally, the United States has recently been more concerned about Pakistan’s missile capabilities.
