ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has defended its record on nuclear safety after theUnited States sanctioned seven Pakistani companies over alleged links tothe nuclear trade, saying the suspicions over the companies should not beused to discredit it.
Ties between the Washington and Islamabad have frayed in recent years overPakistan’s suspected support for militants waging war in Afghanistan,something Pakistani officials deny.
The US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce imposed sanctions on thePakistani companies on March 22, placing them on its “Entity List”, makingit harder for them to operate in the United States and do business with UScompanies.
The sanctions could complicate Pakistan’s bid to join the Nuclear SuppliersGroup, a 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation bycontrolling the export and re-transfer of materials that could fosternuclear weapons development.
Pakistan’s foreign office said many companies around the world are placedon the US commerce department’s Entity List, including businesses fromcountries that are part of the NSG, and the sanctions should not bepoliticised by Pakistan’s opponents.
“Pakistan’s efforts in the area of export controls and non-proliferation aswell as nuclear safety and security are well known. Pakistan and US have ahistory of cooperation in these areas,” the foreign office said in astatement late on Monday.
“We reject attempts by Pakistan’s detractors to exploit these listings tocast aspersions on Pakistan’s non-proliferation credentials.”
Pakistan applied to join the NSG in 2016 but little progress has been made.
The United States has been concerned about Pakistan’s development of newnuclear weapons systems, including small tactical nuclear weapons, and hasbeen trying to persuade it to make a unilateral declaration of “restraint”.
The seven privately owned companies, which are little known in Pakistan,are accused of either being involved in “proliferation of unsafeguardednuclear activities” or helping other Pakistani companies already on theEntity List.