On 18 December 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme under Executive Order (EO) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Sanctions were imposed on four Pakistani entities including the state-owned National Development Complex (NDC).
The United States is not understanding the strategic realities of South Asia, where Indo-US partnership is already aggravating strategic anxieties of Pakistan. The recent missile developments by India, including MIRV-capability Agni-V, hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), and K4 submarine launch ballistic missile has ramifications for regional stability which have been ignored by the United States. Instead, the United States is further strengthening its defense and security partnership with India through agreements like Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), collaboration on cybersecurity, chip manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum technology and in space among other sectors.
The horizontal and vertical improvement of missile capabilities and other military equipment by India is already destabilizing the South Asian region. Pakistan has a history of good relations with the United States with its ups and downs, but one-sided sanctions would only decrease mutual trust between the two states. Pakistan has played a major role in the war against terror on the behalf of the United States and has enjoyed the status of a major non-NATO ally. However, the recent action would only push Pakistan further close to China with which it has a strong strategicpartnership.
Complete article can be read here https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3292891/us-sanctions-pakistan-will-only-push-it-closer-china
Abdul Moiz Khan is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
Syeda Saba Batool is a research officer at the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad.
