US Sanctions Four Companies For Bolstering Pak’s Missile Programme, Find Out What Was Supplied

Pakistani military personnel stand beside short-range Surface to Surface Missile NASR during Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Image: Reuters/Representative)

The US state department on Friday sanctioned three China-based companies and one Belarussian company for supplying items that are needed for ballistic missiles to Pakistan for its ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme. China’s Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade and Granpect Co. Ltd and Belarus’ Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant have been sanctioned.

Belarussian company Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant supplied special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme. These chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC) and is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles.

The Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, supplied missile-related equipment, including a filament winding machine and was destined for the NDC, as per a US state department factsheet.

Filament winding machines are used to produce rocket motor cases. The other Chinese company, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd supplied stir welding equipment, which the US claims can be used to manufacture propellant tanks used in space launch vehicles and linear accelerator system which the US believe is used in inspection of solid rocket motors.

The US state government said that Tianjin Creative’s procurements were likely destined for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). SUPARCO develops and produces Pakistan’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles.

Granpect Company worked with Pakistan’s SUPARCO to supply equipment for testing large-diameter rocket motors and supplied equipment for testing large-diameter rocket motors to Pakistan’s NDC.

State department spokesperson Matthew Miller said these companies materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery, including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan.

The US state department said it remains committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime and is doing so by actions that disrupt procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern.

China has supplied arms and defence equipment to Islamabad’s military modernisation programme for decades and remains an all-weather ally of Pakistan.

(with inputs from PTI)