United States policies towards Pakistan have al ways been discriminatory and full of chauvinism. Starting from 1950s, there are many examples where US targeted Pakistan for the accomplishment of its unwarranted demands and unwanted manipulative requirements. Nevertheless, the permanent feature of US Foreign Policy towards Pakistan has been; ‘to keep Pakistan under its influence, failing to which imposition of sanctions without any logical cognition and legitimacy’. Indeed, Washington envisions Pakistan as a state which should just survive for obeying its undue dictates that may be against its own national interest. Washington never wanted Pakistan to have its nuclear programme for which Pakistan remained under US sanctions for decades. Besides, it never wanted Pakistan to have a very professional Military. Pakistan was scandalized for its missiles programme many a time, starting from the decade of 1990. Sanctioning three Pakistani companies and State owned National Defence Complex by US on December 18, 2024 came as a surprise for most of the scholars and even officials related to missile programme.
While analyzing the nature of sanctions, it is revealed that, US concerns about Pakistan’s missile programme are new, unsubstantiated and quite unfounded. Four Pakistani entities have been sanctioned by US through its Executive Order (E.O.) 13382:a) The National Development Complex (NDC), located in Islamabad, b) Akhtar and Sons Private Limited-Karachi, c) Affiliates International-Karachi, and d) Rockside Enterprise-Karachi. The reasons quoted for sanctioning these entities are that, proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. “In light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development, the United States is designating four entities for sanctions.”
This U.S. Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 deals with proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. But, the question is Pakistan has neither proliferated nor intent to do so its missile programme nor nuclear weapons. US officials have not provided any proves of proliferation as evidence while leveling the accusations. The Foreign Office of Pakistan declared sanctions against these entities as unfair and inequitable; “Pakistan considers the US decision to impose sanctions on NDC and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased. “Such double standards and discriminatory practices not only undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes but also endanger regional and international peace and security”.
In fact, Pakistani nuclear and missile programme is meant for its own security and defense through a process of security maximization. It never had aggressive and offensive designs against any other state or region. A few days after sanctioning these Pakistani entities, US Deputy National Security Adviser, Jon Finer said that, Pakistan’s long-range missile programme is “fundamentally focused on us”, indeed a very strange assertion and illogical accusation. He further disclosed that, these sanctions are not unprecedented. Surely, U.S has been imposing sanctions against Pakistani strategic programme in last four decades at will. In his address at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mr Jon Finer said that, Pakistan’s long-range missile programme is an emerging threat for U.S which is factually incorrect. Pakistan and U.S had no rivalry, though later has never been a friend too. Yet, there neither has any conflict or hostility between Islamabad and Washington.
Traditionally, Pakistan nuclear missile and nuclear programme is totally India focus since later has imposed three wars against Pakistan including disintegration of East Pakistan in 1971. As per Ambassador DrMaleehaLodhi, “The assertion by a US official that Pakistan’s long-range missiles pose a threat to the US is disingenuous, as the American administration is well aware that Pakistan’s missile capability is only India-focused.” Nevertheless, scholars of strategic studies laugh at this juvenile statement of the Mr Finer at a strategically very high forum. A super power, geographically located at thousands of miles away from Pakistan should really be threatened from Pakistani missile system is questionable. During the discussion between Pakistani and American officials over the ballistic missile programme of Pakistan, Pakistan rejected the US stance of any intent or planning to target the US mainland.
What could be the possible reasons and implications for sanctioning Pakistani companies, related to its missile programme at a time once only few weeks are left with Biden Administration to complete its term? It is widely assumed that, US Deep State has the intent to create problems for Pakistan after it had already contributed towards political, economic and security dilemmas for Pakistan.
At this critical time, once Trump is about to take-over the White house on January 20, 2025, these sanctions seems strategically well-conceived and punitive in action. President Elect, Donald Trump is an impulsive personality with a clear tilt towards India. Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program may be kept under scrutiny, building upon these fabricated allegations and subsequent sanctions, imposed on Pakistan as a prejudice.
Indeed, the entire exercise is aimed to build a case against Pakistan’s strategic capability that has made its defense as impregnable and dependency free, which is undesirable for its rivals. Besides, the China-Pakistan strategic ties are a major irritant for United States and its strategic partner, India. At this time what Pakistan should do to counter this US discriminatory act? Political leadership of Pakistan must act with maturity, foresight and judiciousness to bring concord among the political and religious factions. Domestically, the Government must bring political stability and social harmony through tangible CBMs. Externally, the Government must liaise with friendly states through political and diplomatic engagements to rebuff and undo the US allegations about its long-range ballistic missile programme.
—The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
