ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Saturday criticized the United States for imposing sanctions on entities allegedly helping its missile program.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said Pakistan considers this action as biased and politically-motivated.  

“Similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere suspicion; involved items not listed under any export control regime and yet were considered sensitive under broad, catch-all provisions,” she said,

“It is widely known that some countries, while claiming strict adherence to nonproliferation norms, have conveniently waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies to their favoured states. Such double standards and discriminatory practices undermine the credibility of global nonproliferation regimes, increase military asymmetries, and endanger international peace and securit, “ she added.

On Thursday, the United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese suppliers and a Pakistani entity for their alleged involvement in Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, a US official said on Thursday.

In a statement, the US Department of State announced sanctions against five entities and one individual, accusing them of transferring missile technology and equipment in violation of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Anadolu Agency reported.

Among those sanctioned is the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB), which the US says is linked to Pakistan's National Development Complex (NDC), a key player in the development of Pakistan's long-range ballistic missiles.

The sanctions also target three other China-based entities, one Chinese individual, and a Pakistani entity, all accused of supporting Pakistan's missile program.