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Pakistan: US Sanctions `Without Justification'
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry denied on Saturday that the country has received any technology or equipment from China in violation of the missile technology control regime parameters.
Following a US move that it will impose sanctions on a Chinese equipment exporter for alleged missile technology transfer to Pakistan, Pakistani Embassy in Washington issued a statement, saying "Pakistan has not received any technology or equipment from China in violation of the MTCR parameters."
The statement said the US decision is "regrettable and without justification" and based on "unsubstantiated allegations."
US State Department said on Saturday that the United States will slap sanctions on a Chinese firm for allegedly transferring missile technology to Pakistan.
The United States will impose sanctions on the China Metallurgical Equipment Corp, or CMEC, for transferring technology "that contributed to Pakistan's... missile program" and on the Pakistani National Development Complex (NDC), a State Department official said.
The move followed reports in US media that the United States had warned China that it could impose sanctions to crack down on what it believed was transfer of missile know-how and parts.
The State Department official said the United States was imposing "missile proliferation sanctions" on the two entities.
"These sanctions were imposed on these entities for their involvement in the transfer from CMEC to NDC of missile technology control-regime... items," said the official, who asked not to be identified.
He gave no details on what the sanctions specifically would involve.
The Los Angeles Times, in a report on Saturday, said the sanctions would mean that US companies will not be issued licenses to launch satellites on Chinese rockets nor be allowed to give US technology to China's growing satellite industry.
Although the sanctions will have little practical effect because Pakistan has already been under US sanctions since 1998, "they are indicative of a selective US approach on the issue," the embassy's statement said.
Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Inam-ul-Haque denied in Washington two weeks ago that there had been any transfers of missile know-how.
Pakistan and its rival India have both been under US sanctions since 1998 when they both tested nuclear devices.
The Bush administration is expected to decide this month whether to lift sanctions on both nations. US news reports have said the administration leans toward removing sanctions on India but is divided on whether to lift those on Pakistan.
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