WASHINGTON: The US Department of State dismissed any notion of a rift between Islamabad and Washington following the imposition of sanctions on four commercial entities allegedly tied to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel reiterated the enduring significance of Pakistan as a key regional ally during a press briefing, emphasizing the ongoing cooperation in security and trade sectors.
Despite recent sanctions targeting entities from China and Belarus for their reported involvement in Pakistan’s missile program, Patel underscored the depth of the bilateral relationship, expressing the intention to bolster ties further.
In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) criticized the politicization of export controls, asserting that previous listings lacked evidence-sharing and relied on suspicions. FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized the legitimate civilian applications of the flagged items and advocated for transparent discussions to ensure access to technology for socio-economic advancement.
