Top White House official attacks Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, calls it 'emerging threat to US'

A top White House official on Thursday stressed that Pakistan's sophisticated missile technology is an emerging threat to the United States, adding that the new missile programme will equip it with the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including the US. The sanctions also encompassed Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise, which have been charged with contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. "And yesterday, we issued sanctions directly against Pakistan's state-owned National Development Complex, which the United States assesses is involved in the development and production of Pakistan's long-range ballistic missiles, the first time we have sanctioned a Pakistani state-owned enterprise tied to missile development," he said. "If these trend lines continue, Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States, raising real questions about Pakistan's intentions," he said.