The US authorities have charged four companies engaged in providing materials for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. The action was intended to interfere with the systems’ ‘supporting proliferation activities.’
The recent measure is Washington’s latest attempt to crush Islamabad’s ballistic missile program, especially its long-range missile program.
US State Deparment On This Operation
The US State Department stated that ‘three entities belonged to China where one was based in Belarus. These companies have provided items applicable to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programmes, including its long-range missile endeavours.’
They further stated ‘The companies have been involved in activities or transactions that significantly contribute to or pose a risk of substantially contributing to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems by Pakistan.’
The US State Department is getting to collaborate with its partners dedicated to strengthening the international nuclear disarmament environment by preventing and eliminating distribution networks of weapons of mass destruction worldwide.
The Companies who are facing sanctions
The US has imposed sanctions on these companies which include Tianjin Creative Source International Trade, Xi’an Longde Technology Development and Granpect Co Ltd from China, and Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant from Belarus.
These are the companies that were repeatedly engaged in supplying activities or transactions that have contributed or posed a threat to the world in promoting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery including any related efforts that include acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, developing, transporting or transferring of any nuclear materials which is done by Pakistan.
The Materials supplied By the Companies
Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Belarus supplied an advanced vehiche chasis to Pakistan for their long-range ballistic missile program by providing launch support for their missiles developed by National Development Codex(NDC) of Pakistan.
Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited a company in China supplied the equipments related to the long-range missile such as filament winding machine which is a crucial component for manufacturing rocket motor cases to Pakistan’s NDC.
Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd also from China provided a stir weilding equiment and a accelerator system for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. These particular items is likely meant for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) which plays a main role in the contribution in manufacturing and testing of MTCR(Missile Technology Control Regime) I ballistic missiles.
While another Chinese firm Granpect Company Limited joined forces with SUPARCO( Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) of Pakistan to supply testing equiment for the large-diameter rocket motors.
What is Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Program?
Pakistan’s balistic missile programe is one of the key features of the country’s national defences and is a sort of prevention strategy which is primarilty aimed at providing and ensuring security at the highest level against the potential threats from their neighbouring country and long-term rivals India.
The program is known for developing different types of missiles which includes from long range missiles to short-range Intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs).
Some of the notable series for the range of missiles are the Shaheen series which is a long-range missile that travels up to 2,750km, the Ghaznavi series which is a short-range missile that travels around 290km and the Babur cruise missiles designed against land attacks, and submarine.
The advanced development of Pakistan’s ballistic missile program continues to aim to focus on their range, accuracy, and reliability as well as developing new missile programs. Due to this program, there have been a lot of regional tensions going on between their rivals India and South Asia.
The ballistic missile program is also closely monitored by many international countries and their secret agencies so that it restricts the proliferation of missiles and missile technology.
