A day after a top White House official claimed that Pakistan developing sophisticated missile technology would give it the ability to strike targets well beyond South Asia and added that the country's actions were an emerging threat to the US, India said it is closely following the ballistic missile programme of Pakistan.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked about the country's stance on Pakistan's ballistic missile programme, said India is following all developments that have a bearing on its security "very closely" and New Delhi "takes action, as appropriate".
There have been reports of Pakistan developing increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors.
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"As you know, we follow all developments that have a bearing on our security and our interest very closely, and we take these things very seriously, and take action as appropriate," he said.
A few days ago, the US slapped sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including state-owned flagship aerospace and defence agency—National Development Complex (NDC)—on charges of contributing to Pakistan's ballistic-missile programme. The others are Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International and Rockside Enterprise, all based in Karachi.
The US assesses that the NDC is responsible for Pakistan's development of ballistic missiles, including the SHAHEEN-series ballistic missiles, the US State Department had said.
While Akhtar and Sons Private Limited has worked for the NDC to supply a range of equipment to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme, Affiliates International has facilitated procurement of missile-applicable items for the NDC and others. Rockside Enterprise has worked for the NDC to supply a range of equipment to Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile programme, the State Department said.
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All these entities "having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller had said.
