Will US sanctions make any difference to Pakistan’s missiles programme?

Pakistan’s missile programme continues despite six rounds of US sanctions in the past three years, experts say.

Islamabad, Pakistan – The United States government has announced a new round of sanctions targeting a Pakistan company and several Chinese “entities and one individual” for supplying equipment and technology for what it claims is the development of ballistic missiles in Pakistan.

Thursday’s announcement marks the sixth round of such sanctions to be levied by the US on Chinese and Pakistani companies since November 2021. Under these sanctions, the US-based assets of those named can be frozen, and US citizens or anyone within (or transiting) the US are banned from doing business with any group or person named.

The sanctions name China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, as well as Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national, for “knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions”, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

According to the US, the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB) has collaborated with Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which Washington believes is involved in developing long-range ballistic missiles for Pakistan.

“The United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur,” the spokesperson said. The US says it uses sanctions to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), particularly long-range weapons.