On January 3, Ambassador Zamir Akram, Pakistan’s PermRep to the UN, articulated some thoughts about recent US sanctions on Pakistani entities contributing to the country’s long range ballistic missile program.

Ambassador Zamir Akram stated that the U.S. sanctions go back a long time. When India conducted a nuclear test in 1974, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Pakistan to prevent it from developing its nuclear programme. Pakistan-specific sanctions were also imposed after the 1998 Indian nuclear tests. He underscored that there has always been U.S. discriminatory treatment against Pakistan vis-à-vis nuclear and missile programs. Ambassador Akram also noted that the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China may have been a factor in shaping U.S. policy, including the decision to impose sanctions on Pakistan. The pressure on Pakistan was also part of the strategy to contain China. He argued that Pakistan cannot cap its missile capabilities. In addition, he emphasized the need to develop its missile program to counter the threat from India, and underscored the need to develop a robust space program. Ambassador Akram concluded by noting that the impact of these sanctions has been relatively limited, pointing out that Pakistan’s missile program is indigenous, a development that has been driven, in part, by the country’s proactive response to previous U.S. sanctions.