A senior U.S. official has voiced serious concerns over Pakistans rapidly advancing missile technology, warning that the country is developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets far beyond South Asia, potentially including the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, during a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlighted these advancements as an emerging threat to U.S. national security. He stated that Pakistan’s shift in missile development focus—from countering regional threats, particularly from India, to potentially targeting the U.S.—raises significant questions about Islamabad’s strategic intentions. Finer noted that such developments are particularly alarming given the small number of nations with both nuclear weapons and the missile capacity to directly strike the U.S., which typically include adversaries like Russia, North Korea, and China.

The United States has responded to these developments by imposing new sanctions on Pakistan, specifically targeting entities involved in its ballistic missile program. These measures include restrictions on the state-run defence agencies overseeing missile advancements, which the U.S. claims contribute to global proliferation risks. Finer pointed out that Pakistan has made notable strides in missile technology, including the development of advanced systems capable of testing larger rocket motors and deploying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). If such trends continue, Pakistan could soon achieve the capability to strike targets far beyond its immediate region, potentially threatening U.S. territory. These concerns come amid deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, particularly following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The sanctions have been met with strong condemnation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which labeled them as discriminatory and warned that they could destabilize the region by exacerbating military imbalances with India. Pakistan has defended its missile program as a necessary response to Indias growing ballistic missile defence capabilities, which include advanced systems aimed at neutralizing missile threats.

Of particular concern is Pakistan’s development of the MIRV-capable Ababeel missile, which analysts suspect may have benefited from Chinese technology transfers. This missile is viewed as a countermeasure to India’s missile defense initiatives and a key component of Pakistan’s strategy to maintain strategic parity in the region. However, the U.S. sees these advancements as escalating the risk of proliferation and undermining global security, further straining already tense bilateral relations. The situation underscores the complex and evolving security dynamics in South Asia and their broader implications for global stability.

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