US imposes sanctions on 4 Pak entities for role in ballistic missile programme
The US imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including the National Development Complex (NDC), for contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile program. The State Department accuses the NDC of developing SHAHEEN-series missiles and the ot...
The outgoing Biden administration in the US has slapped sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including state-owned flagship aerospace and defence agency National Development Complex (NDC), on charges of contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. In light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan's long-range missile development, the US is designating four entities for sanctions which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, the State Department said on Wednesday. The entities other than NDC are Akhtar & Sons Pvt Ltd, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise. All three are based in Karachi, while the NDC is in Islamabad. The NDC has worked to acquire items in furtherance of Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme - including special vehicle chassis intended to be used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles and missile-testing equipment.
The US assesses the NDC is responsible for Pakistan's development of ballistic missiles, including the SHAHEEN-series ballistic missiles, the State Department said. Akhtar & Sons Pvt Ltd has worked for NDC to supply a range of equipment to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. Affiliates International has facilitated procurement of missile-applicable items for NDC and others in support of that country's ballistic-missile programme, while Rockside Enterprise has supplied a range of equipment to the ballistic missile programme, the State Department said.
All these entities "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," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
