Recently, the US Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer, announced to impose new sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. This selective enforcement of international proliferation has raised concerns about the US credibility and its concern about regional stability in South Asia.
Rising Tensions Over Pakistan’s Missile Program and U.S. Sanctions
The United States has long been concerned about Pakistan’s long-range missile program. However, it intensified pressure on the latter last year by imposing sanctions on three Chinese entities, Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd, Beijing LuoTechnology Development Co. Ltd, and General Technology Limited, for supplying equipment for developing Pakistan’s missile system. Earlier this year, it imposed sanctions on four Chinese firms, along with one Pakistani entity.
While speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Jon Finer stated that the United States sees Pakistan as nothing less than an emerging threat. He further said,
“Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors. If those trends continue, Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including the United States.”
He also pointed out that Pakistan aims to join the small list of nuclear powers Russia, China, and North Korea that hold the capability to reach the United States.
Questioning the Validity of U.S. Claims
These US claims seem nothing more than just a farce. Pakistan’s whole nuclear and security doctrine is India-oriented. It has no direct rivalry with the United States. Moreover, given its economic instability, why would Pakistan attempt to gain missile capability to target such a giant superpower? This raises a question about the reason behind these repeated US sanctions on Pakistan’s missile system. Many assume that these US sanctions are intended to refrain Pakistan from developing ballistic missile systems capable of reaching Israel. Being the sole nuclear power of the Muslim world, Pakistan poses a significant threat to Israel and all such powers targeting Muslims. The United States is an accomplice in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Israel has murdered more than 44000 innocent Palestinians, including children and women, since Oct 7, 2024. Civilian infrastructure, hospitals, mosques, and churches have been bombed indiscriminately by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since then.
The United States, Israel, and its Arab allies have already crippled Iran and its Axis of Resistance, the biggest regional threat to Israel. Israel has even severed Hezbollah’s supply line by toppling the Assad regime and creating chaos in Syria. It has even gained leverage over Lebanon by grabbing land in Syria. Therefore, some analysts hold that Israel and the United States perceive Pakistan as the only remaining threat to the former. However, Pakistan has always offered only diplomatic and moral support to the Palestinians since its creation. There is no historical evidence of Pakistan’s direct involvement in the Israel-Palestine war, except the 6-day Arab war of 1967. Pakistan’s economic state makes it impossible for the country to attack Israel.
U.S. Sanctions: A Geopolitical Strategy to Strengthen Ties with India
Despite the strong will of the Pakistani citizens to military support the Palestinians, the state can’t do so due to the economic plight of the country. Pakistan is economically dependent on US-controlled international monetary institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Attacking Israel, directly or indirectly, will restrain Pakistan’s financial aid from all such institutions and the US allies. Therefore, Israel is not the reason behind these sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Since the re-emergence of Russia, along with China, as the global superpower, the US seeks to curtail its expanding international influence. The United States has established significant cordial ties with India to contain China. India enjoys special status from the US. The latter has even given India certain exemptions. Unlike other US allies, India can freely and openly buy Russian and Iranian oil without any fear of international sanctions. On the other hand, countries like Pakistan are importing costlier oil, lest the US scourge. India’s membership in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is also intended to counter China’s military and economic rise.
The increasing popularity and effectiveness of the BRICS have also posed a significant threat to the US hegemony. The disengagement of troops from the disputed border between China and India after the discussion of the leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of the Kazan summit has increased frustration in the US establishment. Furthermore, the BRICS’ steps toward de-dollarization have also increased difficulties for the US in perpetuating its global influence.
Therefore, it seeks to boost its ties with India. It seems that the increasing sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile system is only to appease the Indian establishment. However, it is time for Washington to realize that these frustrating moves will only expedite its decline, and by no means can it halt the rise of Russia and China as global superpowers.
Abbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist.
