Pakistan once again is in the headwinds of sanctions. The US State Department’s decision to impose sanctions and penalties on four international firms for their alleged business deals with Islamabad has come as a setback in bilateral relations. Though this is not for the first time that the country’s pragmatic-but-peaceful defence arsenal programme has come under retribution of selective legislations, it was irksome to note that hardly a day ago the US envoy had assured that “security and prosperity” was one of the US top priority while dealing with Pakistan. This double standard is not only unbecoming of American leadership, but also hints at the bias towards the region as Washington pampers New Delhi in the league of armaments.
The three Chinese and one Belarus firm will be in the eye of the storm as their respective capitals will go on to lock horns with the US. The law which specifically targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery has been invoked at a time when military imbalance in South Asia and the Mideast is on the verge of catastrophe, and escalation is all around. The Foreign Office, in a muted but direct statement, has rightly said it is a tool for arm-twisting, and political use of export controls. Even if the American ire was on Chinese and Russian companies, it is upsetting to note that singling out Pakistan’s self-defence oriented missile program is unfortunate. This has surely come as a spanner in the works and the entire paradigm of relations with the US must be up for review.
The missile-driven sanctions, incidentally, have come at a time when Pakistan and Iran were planning to go ahead with the gas pipeline project. The upcoming visit of the Iranian president to Pakistan must send down strong signals that Pakistan will not accept dictation on its sovereign dealings with other countries. At the same time, a robust interaction with the Americans is desired to help them unlearn the tits and bits of security dilemma that Pakistan faces in the region and beyond.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2024.
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