Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) defended Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programme, saying the recent US sanctions against the country’s four entities have “no justification”.

His remarks came days after the U.S. slapped sanctions on four Pakistani firms, including the State-owned flagship aerospace and defence agency — National Development Complex (NDC) — on charges of contributing to ballistic missile programme.

In addition to the NDC, the three other entities are Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise. All three are based in Karachi, while the NDC is in Islamabad.

“The sanctions placed upon our National Development Complex and other entities have no justification,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said while addressing a federal cabinet meeting.

“Pakistan has absolutely no intention for our nuclear system to be aggressive. It is 100 per cent for Pakistan’s defence. It’s just deterrence; nothing else,” he added.

The Prime Minister also said that Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme was for defending itself “if God forbid there is aggression against Pakistan”.

Earlier, the Foreign Office termed the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on NDC and three commercial entities as “unfortunate and biased.

Mr. Shehbaz noted that the FO had given a “comprehensive response” and said that the missile programme belonged to the entire nation.

“It’s dearer to them (the public) than their hearts and there will be no compromise,” he said, clarifying that the nation was united on the issue.

Pakistan and the U.S. have experienced an uneasy relationship in recent years due to issues related to human rights, terrorism, nuclear weapons and missile programme.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, the State Department said.

In the designation, the U.S. State Department said on Friday that the sanctions were being imposed as part of the global nonproliferation regime.

“Today, we are designating three entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These three entities, based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), have worked to supply missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme,” the State Department said in a statement.

China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has been the main supplier of arms and defence equipment to Islamabad’s military modernisation programme.

The three companies include General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd., and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd.

They were sanctioned for having engaged or attempted to engage, 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 missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan.

General Technology Limited has worked to supply brazing materials, which are used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines, and in the production of combustion chambers.

Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd. has worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid propellant rocket motors and can be controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. has worked since 2019 to supply D-glass glass fibre, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth, all of which have applications in missile systems.

Today’s actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to act against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

The United States is committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime by taking action to disrupt procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern, the U.S. said.

The sanctions come days after Pakistan conducted the launch of the Ababeel ballistic missile system.