Washington (Pakistan News online) The US has announced sanctions on four Pakistani institutions for the production of long-range ballistic missiles, to which Pakistan has also reacted strongly.
According to Geo News, Giving a press briefing in Washington, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that these four Pakistani institutions are accused of helping Pakistan advance its ballistic missile program.
This help includes the production of special vehicle chassis that are used to launch ballistic missiles. In addition, three institutions in Karachi have also been identified.
The spokesperson said that action will be taken against weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery. The institutions that may be affected include the National Development Complex in Islamabad and three Karachi-based institutions Akhtar & Son, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprises.
Pakistan later termed the sanctions move as discriminatory and the Foreign Office said that Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are aimed at maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the discriminatory US decision to impose sanctions on the institutions is a discriminatory practice, a threat to regional and global security, and the sanctions aim to increase military imbalance.