Former Pakistani Ambassador to the US, Maleeha Lodhi, stated that the recent US sanctions on Pakistan’s missile program would have no impact on its progress or speed.
Speaking to Geo News on Friday, she mentioned that such sanctions are not new, as the Biden administration has imposed similar measures multiple times over the past few years.
Earlier this week, the US imposed additional sanctions targeting four Pakistani entities allegedly involved in ballistic missile-related activities. According to the US State Department, these entities were linked to weapons proliferation and procurement activities.
Lodhi criticized the sanctions as discriminatory, pointing out that India’s more advanced missile program has never faced such restrictions. She emphasized that India has developed its ballistic missile defense systems with assistance from the US, Israel, and its own resources, yet remains unaffected by similar actions.
When asked about potential changes in US-Pakistan relations if Donald Trump returns to power, Lodhi remarked that Pakistan is not a priority in US foreign policy. Trump’s focus would likely remain on China, the Ukraine war, and Middle Eastern conflicts.
She also highlighted that historically, Republican administrations have paid less attention to nuclear non-proliferation compared to Democrats. However, US-Pakistan relations have been at a crossroads since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch rejected the recent US sanctions, labeling them as biased and a threat to regional and global peace.
