The United States has imposed new sanctions on Pakistan's long-range ballistic-missile program, targeting the state-owned National Development Complex (NDC) and three other firms. The sanctions, announced by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, aim to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
The NDC, based in Islamabad, has been accused of seeking components for Pakistan's ballistic-missile program and missile-testing equipment. The State Department factsheet reveals that the NDC is responsible for developing Pakistan's ballistic missiles, including the nuclear-capable Shaheen family of missiles.
The sanctions also target three Karachi-based firms:
- Affiliates International:
- Akhtar and Sons Private Limited:
- Rockside Enterprise:
These sanctions freeze any US property belonging to the targeted entities and bar Americans from doing business with them. Pakistan's foreign ministry has condemned the US action as "unfortunate and biased," claiming it will harm regional stability.
The Star