Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ruled out any compromise on Pakistan nuclear programme in reply to the US sanctions related to the ballistic missile capabilities of the country. Speaking during a federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he reiterated, “The justification cannot be applied for the sanctions imposed on us. There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear program.”
The US sanctions announced last week under Executive Order (EO) 13382 targeted four entities related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including the National Development Complex (NDC). The sanctions claimed that Pakistan was developing long-range ballistic missiles that could reach beyond South Asia. Strongly condemning the move, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) termed it “biased” and warned that it would destabilize both regional and global strategic stability.
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FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch ruled out US claims as “perplexing and illogical,” adding that Pakistan’s defense programs including nuclear and missile capabilities were for national security.
During the course of the meeting, PM Shehbaz spoke out against the recent terrorist attack that took the lives of 17 security forces. He appreciated the resilience of the security forces, stating that in the operation, eight terrorists were killed. Underlining the commitment of the government to eliminate terrorism, the prime minister announced, “We will not relax until the head of terrorism is crushed.” He expressed concern over the rising insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, especially about the sectarian violence in Kurram district, which has caused over 200 fatalities since July.
Speaking over the group’s and nationwide issues like terrorist attacks, the Prime Minister said they were “busy protesting in Islamabad”. He further explained that the government has taken an all-including approach with all provincial governments in handling the purview of terrorism.
Bolstered hope: the Prime Minister said inflation is at its lowest level since 2018, and exports are increasing. One strategic development in ties with Bangladesh, as per the last discussions, is the feasibility of rice exports to that country. The prime minister also referred to putting national interests before petty political ones during a meeting with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership. He expects good results from ongoing discussions between committees.