Pakistan rejects allegations of listings of commercial entities links to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - In response to media queries regarding the US decision to impose sanctions against commercial entities on allegations of links with Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that such listings of commercial entities have taken place in the past without sharing any evidence.

"While we are not aware of the specifics of the latest measures by the United States, in the past we have come across many instances where listings have been made on mere suspicion or even when the involved items were not on any control lists but were deemed sensitive under catch-all provisions.

"We have pointed out many times that such items have legitimate civil commercial uses. It is, therefore, important to avoid arbitrary application of export controls. There is need for discussions between concerned parties for an objective mechanism to ensure access to technology in pursuit of socio-economic development. Pakistan has always been ready to discuss end-use and end-user verification mechanisms so that legitimate commercial users are not hurt by discriminatory application of export controls."

The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan rejects political use of export controls. "It is a reality that the same jurisdictions, which claim to exercise strict non-proliferation controls, have waived off licensing requirements for advanced military technologies for some countries. This is leading to arms buildup; accentuating regional asymmetries, and undermining the objectives of non-proliferation and of regional and global peace and security,” she declared.