US sanctions China, Belarus companies for Pakistan missile-linked gear

The United States on Friday said it has imposed sanctions on three China-based companies and one from Belarus for allegedly supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, including long-range weaponry.The companies are Xi’an Longze Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade and Granpect Company Ltd from China and Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant from Belarus.”The Department of State is designating four entities pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,” said state department spokesperson Matthew Miller.”These entities have supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme,” he said.

While China has been the biggest supplier of weapons and technology to Pakistan in recent years, the link between a Belarusian entity and Pakistan has come as a surprise to many experts. Ukraine, however, is known to have supplied defence items to Pakistan since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

On the implications of the sanctions, the US said, “As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the US, or in possession or control of US persons, are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).””Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked,” it further said. “All transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorised by a general or specific licence issued by OFAC or exempt,” said Miller.

Implications of sanctions“These entities have supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme,” said Miller. While China has been the biggest supplier of weapons and technology to Pakistan in recent years, the link between a Belarusian entity and Pakistan has come as a surprise to many experts. Ukraine, however, is known to have supplied defence items to Pakistan since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

On the implications of the sanctions, the US said, “As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the US, or in possession or control of US persons, are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.” “Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked,” it further said. “All transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorised by a general or specific licence issued by OFAC or exempt,” said Miller.