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ISLAMABAD: The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), hosted a Roundtable Discussion on \u201cLatest Discriminatory U.S. Sanctions and Assertions about Pakistan\u2019s Missile Program \u2013 Implications and Challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eminent speakers included Ambassador Zamir Akram, Advisor to the SPD; Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Dean of Social Sciences and Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, QAU; and Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi, DG ACDIS, MOFA. The event brought together senior diplomats, renowned scholars, and practitioners to reflect on the nature of the U.S. sanctions and their implications.<\/p>\n
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the recent U.S. sanctions against Pakistani entities and the surprising statement by a senior U.S. official, Jon Finer,\u00a0 about Pakistan\u2019s long-range ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the Foreign Office\u2019s response to these developments, he noted that the alleged threat perception from Pakistan was characterised as \u201cunfortunate\u201d and U.S. allegations as \u201cunfounded, devoid of \u00a0rationality and sense of history.\u201d The Foreign Office had also underlined that U.S.\u2019s discriminatory policies accentuated military assymetries in South Asia and undermined strategic stability in the region. The Foreign Office had also affirmed that Pakistan\u2019s strategic program and capabilities were a \u2018sacred trust\u2019 of the people, it enjoyed complete consensus in the country, and was not subject to any outside intrusion or compromise.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood stressed the importance of constructively engaging the U.S. in order to: (i) ensure that the U.S. recognized Pakistan\u2019s legitimate security concerns and legitimate defence needs; (ii) stress the imperative of fair, equal and non-discriminatory treatment; and (iii) effectively address the unfounded claim made by Mr. Jon Finer. He concluded that, in the end, strategic clarity and national resolve would carry the day for Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Malik Qasim Mustafa Director ACDC ISSI, highlighted the continuing challenges posed by the U.S.’s inconsistent approach towards Pakistan. He stated that by imposing these discriminatory sanctions the U.S. has ignored the fragile dynamics of strategic stability in South Asia. Pakistan has faced misperceptions about its strategic program in the past and it has always sought to address international concerns, while countering baseless allegations. Pakistan would remain committed to promoting peace and stability in South Asia.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi argued that the parameters of the U.S. sanctions need to be understood. He stated that sanctions were not new but there has been a visible spike in the last two years. He noted that the sanctions are a manifestation of geopolitical contestations.Further, it also showed the gaps in export control regimes where the legitimate needs of states to access technology for peaceful purposes are being blocked.<\/p>\n
He underscored the challenges to engage constructively with the U.S. on the issue. He reaffirmed that Pakistan cannot accept caps on its missile capabilities. He also said that arms control negotiations would be meaningful only in the bilateral context and the U.S. should facilitate such a dialogue in our region.<\/p>\n
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal discussing the implications of the sanctions, stated that these are part of a political chessboard and represent a practical measure to discredit Pakistan. He stated that essentially the U.S. was advocating that Pakistan must accept India as a major power in the region, which is not acceptable to Pakistan. The U.S. intent with the sanctions is to cap Pakistan\u2019s nuclear program, and, if possible, to roll it back.<\/p>\n
Dr. Jaspal stated that the U.S.-China strategic competition, which was likely to intensify in the coming year also plays a part in the political chessboard. India tried to cash in on the opportunities provided by geostrategic dynamics to put pressure on Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Zamir Akram stated that the U.S. s<\/strong>anctions go back a long time. When India conducted a nuclear test in 1974, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Pakistan to prevent it from developing its nuclear programme. Pakistan-specific sanctions were also imposed after the 1998 Indian nuclear tests.<\/p>\n