ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it would not allow anyone to cast doubt on the safety of its nuclear program only a day after the United States announced it had blacklisted several entities for contributing to Pakistan’s “unsafeguarded nuclear activities or ballistic missile program.”
The US commerce department upgraded its Entity List by adding the names of 27 foreign individuals and entities who were thought to be engaged in activities considered detrimental to the American national security and foreign policy interests.
Among them, 16 were said to be involved in the development of Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile program.
“Let me say this clearly that Pakistan’s nuclear facilities and program are totally safeguarded,” the country’s foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar told reporters during his weekly media briefing in Islamabad. “We do not accept any insinuations in this regard.”
Refusing to provide an elaborate answer, he said the government was still evaluating the development.
“We have seen the report,” he added. “At this stage, I can only say that we are reviewing it and will be offering our detailed response later.”
The US put individuals and entities from Russia, China, Japan, Singapore and Pakistan on its trade blacklist for contributing to the development of China’s quantum computing applications for military use, Pakistan’s “nuclear and missile proliferation,” and advancement of the Russian military.
US Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement the move would help prevent US technology from supporting the development of Chinese and Russian “military advancement and activities of non-proliferation concern like Pakistan’s unsafeguarded nuclear activities or ballistic missile program.”
China also criticized the US for misusing its state power, as its embassy in Washington accused the Americans of employing “the catch-all concept of national security … to suppress and restrict Chinese enterprises.”
“China is firmly opposed to that,” it added.
Pakistan says won’t let anyone cast doubt on its nuclear program’s safety
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Pakistan says won’t let anyone cast doubt on its nuclear program’s safety
- The foreign office issued the statement only a day after the US mentioned Pakistan’s ‘unsafeguarded nuclear activities’
- The United States also placed several Chinese and Pakistani entities on its trade blacklist
Pakistan deputy PM visits UAE for official talks, including with Etisalat
- Ishaq Dar arrives from Davos after attending the World Economic Forum
- Visit includes Etisalat meeting amid long-running PTCL privatization dispute
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday on an official visit following his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, the country’s foreign ministry said.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic ties, with Abu Dhabi providing critical financial support to Islamabad in recent years through deposits, loans and investment commitments as Pakistan navigates a fragile economic recovery.
“During his stay, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will hold official meetings, including with the management of Etisalat,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The planned meeting with Etisalat comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. (PTCL).
The UAE-based telecom group has withheld a final payment of about $800 million linked to its 2005 acquisition of a 26 percent stake in PTCL, citing delays in the transfer of properties included in the deal, a position disputed by Pakistan.
The issue has resurfaced in recent years as Pakistan seeks to revive investor confidence, advance privatization plans and stabilize its finances under an International Monetary Fund-supported program.
The foreign ministry said Dar will also hold meetings with other UAE officials during his visit.
