Pakistan has fiercely criticized the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on its ballistic missile program, labeling them as discriminatory and a threat to regional peace. The decision, which targets several Pakistani entities accused of weapons proliferation, has triggered a sharp response from Islamabad, which sees the move as another example of American double standards and a calculated effort to undermine Pakistan’s strategic security.
A Familiar Playbook
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the US sanctions, calling them baseless and devoid of credible evidence. The sanctions, which freeze US-based assets and prohibit Americans from engaging in business with the targeted Pakistani entities, include measures against the Islamabad-based National Development Complex (NDC), Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International, and Rockside Enterprise.
According to the US Department of State, the NDC has been involved in procuring materials for Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, including the Shaheen series of missiles. The US alleges these sanctions aim to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ensure global security. However, Islamabad sees these moves as part of a broader, geopolitically motivated strategy to isolate and weaken Pakistan under the guise of nonproliferation.
This is not the first time such accusations have been leveled against Pakistan. Earlier sanctions targeted foreign entities allegedly linked to Pakistan’s missile development, including a Chinese research institute. Pakistan maintains that these measures have consistently been imposed on the basis of conjecture and suspicion, with no substantial evidence provided to substantiate US claims.
Condemning US Double Standards
In its official statement, Pakistan accused the US of employing a policy of blatant double standards. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to Washington’s preferential treatment of its allies, citing recent waivers on licensing requirements for advanced military technology to certain countries. This, Islamabad argues, exposes the inherent hypocrisy in US nonproliferation policies, where strategic alliances dictate enforcement rather than genuine concerns about global security.
Read More: Blake Lively Sues ‘It Ends With Us’ Co-star Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment
“The selective targeting of Pakistan while ignoring the aggressive missile programs of other regional actors undermines the credibility of the US approach,” read the statement, a thinly veiled reference to India’s growing missile capabilities and its close defense ties with Washington.
Pakistan also warned of the broader consequences of such actions, emphasizing that these sanctions pose a direct threat to strategic stability in South Asia. By disproportionately targeting Pakistan, the US risks exacerbating tensions in an already volatile region. “The dangerous implications of these sanctions extend beyond South Asia and jeopardize peace and security on a global scale,” the statement added.
A Decades-Old Rivalry: The Shadow of India
Pakistan’s criticism of the US sanctions cannot be divorced from its historical rivalry with India. Since both nations declared themselves nuclear powers in 1998, following tit-for-tat nuclear tests, their defense strategies have been shaped by a fragile balance of power. Both countries regularly test ballistic missile systems, with India recently making significant advancements in its Agni-V long-range missile program.
Pakistan argues that the US has turned a blind eye to India’s missile development and procurement of advanced military technology. With India receiving waivers and preferential treatment under agreements like the US-India Civil Nuclear Deal, Islamabad believes the sanctions on Pakistan are less about nonproliferation and more about furthering Washington’s strategic alignment with New Delhi to counterbalance China.
The Emerging Threat Narrative
Adding fuel to the fire, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer claimed on Thursday that Pakistan’s missile program posed an emerging threat to the United States. Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Finer alleged that Islamabad was developing missile capabilities that could extend beyond South Asia, with the potential to strike targets as far as the US mainland.
“Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors,” Finer said. He further warned that if current trends continued, Pakistan could emerge as a direct threat to American interests.
Islamabad has dismissed these assertions as alarmist rhetoric aimed at justifying the sanctions. “Pakistan’s missile program is strictly defensive and aimed at maintaining credible deterrence against external aggression,” said an official source within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The US accusations ignore the regional realities and Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.”
Geopolitics and the US Agenda
Many analysts view the sanctions as part of a broader geopolitical chess game. The US has increasingly leaned into partnerships with India to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This pivot has come at the expense of its once-close ties with Pakistan, which were already fraying over the past two decades due to disagreements on counterterrorism and Afghanistan.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has deepened its defense and economic partnerships with China, further alienating Washington. The sanctions, therefore, are seen as less about nonproliferation and more about punishing Pakistan for aligning itself with China and resisting US attempts to bring it back into its sphere of influence.
Regional Implications and Pakistan’s Warning
Islamabad’s rejection of the US sanctions is as much about principle as it is about strategy. The Pakistani government has warned that such punitive measures will only serve to destabilize South Asia, encouraging an arms race rather than fostering dialogue. By singling out Pakistan while ignoring India’s missile advancements, the US risks pushing Pakistan further into China’s orbit, thereby undermining its own strategic objectives.
The sanctions also raise questions about the credibility of US commitments to global peace. “If the US were truly committed to nonproliferation, it would address all actors equally,” said a retired Pakistani diplomat. “By selectively targeting Pakistan, the US undermines the very stability it claims to protect.”
The latest sanctions on Pakistan’s missile program mark another low point in the strained relationship between Islamabad and Washington. As the US doubles down on its accusations, Pakistan remains steadfast in defending its missile program as a necessary deterrent in an unstable region. With both sides trading barbs and no signs of reconciliation, the sanctions are likely to deepen the geopolitical divide, further destabilizing South Asia and complicating US-Pakistan relations for years to come.