U.S. SANCTIONS CHINESE, BELARUSIAN FIRMS AIDING PAK MISSILE PROGRAM

Pak’s long range missile system is meant to target Indian cities.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Three Chinese companies and one Belarus-based company have been sanctioned by the Joe Biden administration after it was revealed that these companies were supplying missilemaking material to Pakistan for its long range ballistic missile program. Pakistan’s long range missile system has been developed keeping Indian cities as its target.

This is the second time in less than a year that Pakistan’s attempts to build systems to deliver weapons of mass destruction have led to strict action by Washington.

The missile development program, which is a highly costly exercise, is continuing even as per the assessment of the World Bank, Pakistan’s economy is facing one of its worst crises. Islamabad is mostly dependent on external financing from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and countries like Saudi Arabia and China to keep itself afloat.

The concern among those who keep a watch on Pakistan’s missile program is Beijing using Pakistan-based missiles and the launching capabilities of Islamabad for its

The three Chinese companies that have been sanctioned by Washington on Friday are Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Company Limited and Granpect Company Limited.

The Belarus government controlled “Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant”, which has been supplying special vehicle chassis to Pakistan that are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles too has been sanctioned. The company is a part of the Belarusian State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus (a.k.a. SAMI or State Military Industrial Committee), which is responsible for the creation of modern sophisticated weapons, military and special hardware for the Belarus military.