The United States has reaffirmed it will not support Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme. This decision reflects a strong position against the development and spread of lethal weapons. “We have been clear and consistent about our concerns with Pakistan’s ballistic missile program for many years,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Miller emphasized that denying support to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme is a longstanding policy. The US plans to continue using sanctions and other tools to protect national security and prevent the misuse of its financial system by proliferators.
While monitoring Pakistan’s missile developments, the US still considers Pakistan a close partner. “Pakistan has been a long-term partner of ours,” Miller noted. He added that despite their partnership, the US will act when interests diverge.
The US has a different approach to India’s missile programme. Both Pakistan and India are not signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Pakistan’s missile programme primarily serves as a deterrent against India, while India upgrades its arsenal as a counter to China.
Recently, the US imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and companies for allegedly aiding Pakistan’s missile efforts. Miller stated that the Chinese institute helped Pakistan acquire equipment for its Shaheen 3 and Ababeel missile systems.
Previously, sanctions were also placed on three China-based companies for supplying missile-related items to Pakistan. The Beijing Research Institute was involved in procuring equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems.
“As today’s actions show, the United States will continue to combat proliferation and related procurement activities,” Miller said. In response, Pakistan criticized the US for what it sees as double standards. It claimed that some nations bypass nonproliferation norms to favor certain states. Such practices, Pakistan argued, undermine global nonproliferation efforts and threaten international peace.
