Former Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, has downplayed the impact of US sanctions on Pakistan, stating they will have “zero effect.”
Lodhi emphasized that US sanctions are not a new phenomenon for Pakistan.
“Since Pakistan began pursuing its nuclear program, the US has repeatedly imposed sanctions, yet they have had no tangible impact,” said Lodhi, who also previously served as Pakistan’s envoy to the United States.
Lodhi criticized what she called the US’s double standards, highlighting that India, despite having a more advanced missile program, faces no similar punitive measures.
“This is a clear example of discriminatory behavior by the US,” she remarked, reaffirming that the sanctions will not disrupt Pakistan’s trajectory.
She further noted that Pakistan has become less of a priority in US foreign policy, particularly after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. “The Trump administration shifted its focus to China, leaving US-Pakistan relations at a crossroads,” Lodhi observed.
On domestic debates about Pakistan’s nuclear program, Lodhi called for unity and discouraged political point-scoring. “No Pakistani supports the US’s discriminatory actions, and we must maintain a united stance on such critical national issues,” she asserted.
US Concerns Over Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Program
The sanctions come amid heightened scrutiny from the US regarding Pakistan’s ballistic missile developments. A senior White House official, Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, expressed concerns over Pakistan’s long-range missile capabilities, suggesting they could eventually enable strikes beyond South Asia, including potential targets in the United States.
On Wednesday, the US State Department announced additional sanctions targeting four entities involved in Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. The decision, according to the State Department, was made due to the “continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development.”
The developments reflect escalating tensions between the two nations, as Washington questions Islamabad’s strategic intentions while Pakistan dismisses the sanctions as ineffective and discriminatory.
