In a move that further strains US-Pakistan relations, the Biden administration on Wednesday announced another round of sanctions targeting Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. Four entities – the National Development Complex (NDC), Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise – were accused of supplying equipment and materials essential to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The sanctions, imposed under Executive Order (EO) 13382, aim to disrupt Pakistan’s missile development efforts, which the US claims pose significant proliferation threats.
The latest US measures have revived debates about Washington’s broader strategy in South Asia, its growing reliance on economic and technological sanctions, and its troubling tendency to single out Pakistan under the guise of global security concerns.
Washington’s Case Against Pakistan
The US Department of State justified the sanctions by alleging that the targeted Pakistani entities were materially contributing to WMD proliferation through their role in advancing Pakistan’s long-range missile program. According to the US, the NDC spearheads Pakistan’s missile ambitions, while Affiliates International and Akhtar and Sons facilitate the procurement of sensitive materials.
“Pakistan’s long-range missile development represents a continuing proliferation threat,” read the State Department’s statement, adding that such activities jeopardize global security.
The timing of these sanctions is far from coincidental. With Washington ramping up its Indo-Pacific strategy and aligning itself closely with India, many in Pakistan see the sanctions as part of a geopolitical campaign to weaken Pakistan’s defense capabilities.
“Politically Motivated and Unfair”
Pakistan has rejected the sanctions as baseless and politically motivated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a scathing response, with spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch calling the US action “unilateral” and “unfounded.”
“This action is yet another example of the United States weaponizing sanctions to pressure sovereign nations,” Baloch said. “These sanctions are based on mere suspicions and have no grounding in verifiable evidence. They are biased, uncalled-for, and politically motivated.”
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Washington of applying double standards, pointing out the lack of scrutiny on India’s growing missile and nuclear programs. Islamabad views these sanctions as a continuation of Washington’s broader strategy to isolate Pakistan and curb its defense capabilities, particularly in light of the US’s deepening ties with India under the banner of countering China.
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An Uneven Playing Field
While the US has slapped Pakistan with sanctions, it has maintained a glaring silence on India’s missile development and nuclear modernization efforts. This selective targeting has not gone unnoticed in Islamabad. Pakistan’s defense analysts have long argued that Washington’s sanctions regime is primarily aimed at consolidating India’s military supremacy in the region while keeping Pakistan on the defensive.
Dr. Ayesha Jalal, a prominent historian, and political analyst, criticized the US’s one-sided policies. “It is ironic that the US sanctions Pakistan for activities it deems ‘proliferation risks’ while ignoring India’s Agni missile program and nuclear advancements,” Jalal said. “This isn’t about non-proliferation; this is about power politics.”
The situation is further complicated by China’s role as Pakistan’s principal defense partner. With Chinese companies also facing US sanctions for allegedly supplying missile-related technology to Pakistan, the US appears to be sending a message to Beijing as much as to Islamabad.
A Pattern of Targeting
This is not the first time Pakistan’s defense infrastructure has been targeted by Washington. In September 2023, the US imposed sanctions on five entities and one individual linked to Pakistan’s missile program. These actions were accompanied by allegations that Chinese firms were supplying missile technology to Pakistan for systems like the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel missiles.
In October 2023, three more Chinese firms were sanctioned for similar activities. The frequency of these sanctions reflects an emerging trend: the US is increasingly relying on economic coercion to counter Pakistan and its allies in the region.
Weaponizing Sanctions
Sanctions are not merely tools of non-proliferation but instruments of geopolitical dominance. By targeting Pakistan’s missile program, Washington is attempting to limit Islamabad’s ability to maintain a credible defense posture against regional threats, particularly from India.
However, this approach risks further alienating Pakistan, a country that has already shifted closer to China and Russia in recent years. As the US tightens its grip through sanctions, Pakistan is likely to deepen its strategic partnerships with Beijing and Moscow, accelerating the emergence of a multipolar world order.
Consequences for US-Pakistan Relations
The latest sanctions mark a new low in US-Pakistan relations, which have already been fraught with distrust and divergent strategic priorities. While Washington continues to frame its actions as measures to combat WMD proliferation, Pakistan sees them as evidence of the US’s unwillingness to treat it as an equal partner.
The sanctions also undermine the possibility of future cooperation on issues like counterterrorism, regional stability, and economic development. For Pakistan, the sanctions are yet another reminder that Washington’s promises of partnership come with strings attached.
A Fractured Relationship
The US’s sanctions against Pakistan’s missile program are not just about non-proliferation; they are emblematic of a deeper geopolitical struggle in South Asia. For Pakistan, these sanctions are a clear signal that the US views it as a secondary player in a region dominated by India and China.
As Islamabad resists Washington’s coercive measures, the cracks in US-Pakistan relations will only widen, pushing Pakistan further into the orbit of America’s strategic rivals. The consequences of this fractured relationship will reverberate far beyond South Asia, reshaping the global balance of power in the years to come.