US sanctions 7 Pakistani firms for nuclear proliferation-Huge Blow to Islamabad
In a significant blow to Islamabad’s hopes of becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the US has imposed sanctions on seven Pakistani companies for nuclear proliferation. 
A month after, terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force decided to put Pakistan on its watchlist, this move has been initiated by the US.
Pakistan which seeks equivalence with India which has already many nations supporting its bid to be a member of the NSG, this development has dealt a body blow to Pakistan.
Dawn reported ,that the seven Pakistani companies the US has sanctioned are “reasonably believed to be involved, or …pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States”, said the US Bureau of Industry and Security, which added a total of 23 companies to a list of such entities.
“The move forms a series of decisions aimed at putting a squeeze on Pakistan,” wrote Dawn, referring no doubt to the US freezing $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan in January, as well as a $33 million freeze on financial assistance to Pakistan in this month’s draft spending bill in the US.
Three out of the seven Pakistani companies were listed for their involvement in the proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities that are contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy interests of the United States, while two were found procuring supplies for nuclear-related entities already on the list.
All of these 7 companies have been sanctioned along with 7 others associated with Pakistan’s missile programme. These were sanctioned in December 2016 also by the US Department of Commerce and also for “acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the US
SOURCE: TOI
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