Pakistan issued a strong condemnation of the United States on Thursday following the announcement of new sanctions targeting the country’s long-range ballistic missile program, describing the action as indicative of “double standards and discriminatory practices.”

Mathew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, revealed the sanctions on Wednesday, stating they were enacted under an executive order aimed at “proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.”

The sanctions specifically affect Pakistan‘s state-owned National Defense Complex and three associated entities involved in the development of long-range ballistic missiles, including the Shaheen missile series.

In response, Pakistan’s foreign ministry characterized the sanctions as “unfortunate and biased.” The ministry emphasized that Islamabad’s defense initiatives are designed to protect the nation’s sovereignty and maintain peace in South Asia.

“The latest round of sanctions undermines the pursuit of peace and security by exacerbating military imbalances,” the ministry noted, seemingly alluding to the ongoing rivalry with India, which is also a nuclear power.

The ministry cautioned that such policies could have serious repercussions for the strategic stability of the region and beyond, although it did not provide further details.

The sanctions against the National Defense Complex and other related firms result in the freezing of any U.S. assets they possess and prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with them.

“The strategic program of Pakistan is a sacred trust placed in its leadership by 240 million citizens. This trust, held in the highest regard across the political spectrum, must not be compromised,” the foreign ministry asserted in its response to the U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. State Department’s fact sheet indicates that the National Defense Complex in Islamabad has been involved in acquiring equipment designed for the support of ballistic missile launches and missile testing, which is aimed at enhancing the nation’s missile development capabilities.

Additionally, the fact sheet identifies other companies subjected to U.S. sanctions, including Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Ltd., and Rockside Enterprise, all based in Karachi.

Miller stated, “The United States will persist in its efforts to combat proliferation and related procurement activities that raise concerns.”

Pakistan’s Shaheen surface-to-surface missile has the capability to deliver nuclear warheads over a distance of approximately 2,750 kilometers, allowing this solid-fueled, multistage missile to target locations throughout India and parts of the Middle East.

The first nuclear tests by New Delhi and Islamabad occurred in May 1998, heightening fears that any future conflict between the two nations could escalate into a nuclear confrontation in South Asia. The two countries have engaged in three wars, leading to ongoing tensions and strained relations.

Both India and Pakistan have declined to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is an international accord aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Syed Muhammad Ali, a security analyst in Islamabad, remarked to VOA, “These U.S. sanctions targeting a close and longstanding strategic ally like Pakistan are regrettable, disconnected from historical contexts, and reflect a diminished U.S. commitment to regional peace, security, and strategic stability.”