US Sanctions 3 Firms, Including 3 in China, for Providing Ballistic Missile Components to Pakistan

Washington: Three China-based firms and one from Belarus were issued fresh sanctions by the United States for supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme.

The three Chinese companies are Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade and Granpect Co. Ltd and Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant from Belarus.

These entities “have engaged in activities or transactions that have 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,” news agency ANI quoted State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller as saying on Friday.

Miller said the US strives to reinforce the global nonproliferation regime by acting against the procurement networks supporting proliferation activities of concern.

An ally of Pakistan, China has been the main supplier of arms and defence equipment to Islamabad's military modernisation programme.

The Belarus firm supplied special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme.

Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan's National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles, according to a State Department Factsheet.

Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, supplied missile-related equipment, including a filament winding machine, to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme that we assess was destined for NDC.

Filament winding machines can be used to produce rocket motor cases.

Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd supplied missile-related equipment to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme, including stir welding equipment (which the United States assesses can be used to manufacture propellant tanks used in space launch vehicles), and a linear accelerator system (which the United States assesses can be used in the inspection of solid rocket motors).

Tianjin Creative’s procurements were likely destined for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which 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.
 

(With ANI inputs)