Islamabad: The US has imposed sanctions against seven Pakistani companies for allegedly engaging in nuclear trade in a move that could undermine Pakistan's ambition of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an elite club of countries that can trade fissile materials and nuclear technologies.
The list, prepared by the US Bureau of Industry and Security, declared that all seven companies were "reasonably believed to be involved, or to pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the US", Dawn online reported.
Overall, a total of 23 entities were added to the list. The list also included 15 entities from South Sudan and one from Singapore. All 23 entities now face tough export control measures which could prevent them from conducting international trade. Among the seven Pakistani companies three were listed for "their involvement in the proliferation of un-safeguarded nuclear activities that were contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy interests of the US".
The move will have a negative impact on Pakistan's efforts to join the NSG which is a group of 48 countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. Pakistan applied for the NSG membership on May 2016. It says that NSG "should adopt a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach for inducting new members". Several countries including China and Turkey support Pakistan's application.
