Former Envoy: US Sanctions Won’t Hinder Pakistan’s Missile Programme
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former envoy to the United States, asserted on Friday that recent US sanctions targeting Pakistani firms linked to the country’s ballistic missile programme will have no impact on its progress.
The US announced sanctions against four entities on Wednesday, alleging their involvement in Pakistan’s missile programme. The State Department emphasized continued measures against activities linked to missile proliferation.
Speaking to Geo News, Lodhi downplayed the sanctions as routine, noting that similar restrictions have been imposed by the Biden administration multiple times over the past four years.
“These sanctions won’t affect Pakistan’s missile or nuclear policies. Historically, the US has consistently tried to curtail Pakistan’s nuclear advancements since its inception,” Lodhi stated.
She criticized the sanctions as discriminatory, pointing out that the US has never imposed similar measures on India, despite its more advanced missile programme and its acquisition of ballistic missile defence systems from the US and Israel.
“This biased approach underscores a double standard, but it will have zero impact on Pakistan,” she added.
Addressing the potential implications of a Trump presidency, Lodhi remarked that Pakistan is not a priority in US foreign policy. Instead, the US is more focused on China, Ukraine, and other global conflicts. She also noted that Republican administrations historically place less emphasis on nuclear nonproliferation compared to Democrats.
“Our relationship with the US has been at a crossroads since their withdrawal from Afghanistan, and nuclear nonproliferation is unlikely to be a major focus for Trump,” she said.
Foreign Office Condemns ‘Biased’ US Sanctions
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) issued a strong response to the sanctions, describing them as “biased” and a threat to regional and international peace.
The FO criticized the sanctions as undermining non-proliferation norms and exacerbating military imbalances in South Asia, warning of their dangerous implications for strategic stability.
“Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are solely for defending its sovereignty and ensuring peace in South Asia,” the FO stated, condemning the sanctions on three Karachi-based entities as baseless and lacking evidence.
The FO further highlighted that while the US claims adherence to non-proliferation norms, it has previously waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies to other nations.
“The sanctity of Pakistan’s strategic programme, entrusted to its leadership by 240 million people, remains uncompromised,” the statement concluded.
