TIL Desk/World/Islamabad/ The US has imposed sanctions on 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”.
Overall, a total of 23 entities were added to the list that was published in the US Federal Register. 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 unsafeguarded nuclear activities that were contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy interests of the US”.
Two firms were accused of procuring supplies for nuclear-related entities already on the list and the remaining two were accused of acting as fronts for listed entities. There was also a Singapore-based company which the US bureau said was linked to one of the Pakistani firms.
