Washington: US Deputy National Security Advisor John Finer says that even America is not safe from Pakistani missiles.
John Finer said that Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missiles that can target targets in South Asia as well as the United States.
He said that there is no doubt that these ballistic missiles can also be equipped with nuclear weapons.
According to a foreign news agency, the US Deputy National Security Advisor said that Islamabad’s behavior has raised doubts about the objectives of the long-range missile program.
The National Security Advisor said that it is clear that Pakistan’s ballistic missile program is a threat to the United States.
It should be remembered that the US State Department had announced a ban on four Pakistani institutions yesterday for assisting in the preparation of ballistic missiles.
The US State Department had further said in its statement regarding the ban on Pakistani institutions that the US will continue its action against nuclear weapons and all activities related to it.
According to a foreign news agency, this decision of the US State Department has been taken in view of Pakistan’s expansion of its missile program.
According to the US State Department, the sanctions imposed on 4 Pakistani entities have been imposed under Executive Order (EO) 13382, and this order was applied to those who facilitate the production and delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
On the other hand, the Pakistani Foreign Office reacted strongly to the US sanctions and termed them unfair. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that the US sanctions on the National Development Complex and 3 other entities are discriminatory.
On the US sanctions, the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson said that the purpose of Pakistan’s strategic capabilities is to defend its sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in South Asia. The latest installment of sanctions deviates from the goal of peace and security, which is aimed at increasing military imbalance.
Such policies have dangerous implications for the strategic stability of our region and beyond.
Pakistan says that this strategic program is a sacred trust bestowed upon its leadership by 240 million people and that sacred trust cannot be compromised.
We also regret the imposition of sanctions on private commercial entities, similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere suspicions without any evidence.
While claiming to strictly adhere to the principles of non-proliferation, other countries have in the past waived the requirement of licensing advanced military technology to other countries.
The Foreign Office spokesperson further said that such double standards and discriminatory practices not only damage the credibility of non-proliferation regimes but also endanger regional and international peace and security.
