JNS: A senior U.S. official has expressed growing concern over Pakistan’s advancements in long-range ballistic missile technology, warning that the country is developing systems with the potential to strike targets far beyond South Asia, including the United States.
Speaking at an event organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Adviser, highlighted that Pakistan is steadily improving its missile capabilities. These advancements, he noted, include long-range ballistic systems and equipment capable of testing larger rocket motors.
“If these trends continue, Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, potentially reaching the United States,” Finer cautioned. He emphasized that such developments raise serious questions about Pakistan’s intentions.
According to the different media report, Finer pointed out the small number of nations possessing both nuclear weapons and missile technology capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, suggesting that Pakistan’s actions are increasingly seen as a potential threat to U.S. security. “It is hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” he said.
The Deputy National Security Adviser also expressed concerns over Pakistan’s lack of engagement with the international community regarding its missile program, indicating that the country has not adequately addressed global security worries. “Unfortunately, it is our sense that Pakistan has failed to take these concerns seriously and continues to advance these capabilities,” Finer remarked.
These comments come amid the U.S. government’s recent decision to impose sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including the state-run National Development Complex (NDC), which plays a key role in developing Pakistan’s missile systems, including the Shaheen series.
In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions as “biased” and counterproductive. A spokesperson for the Ministry, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated, “Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia.” She further criticized the sanctions for exacerbating military imbalances in the region, calling them contrary to efforts for regional peace and security.
The tensions surrounding Pakistan’s missile program reflect broader U.S. concerns about global nuclear and missile proliferation, as Washington continues to pressure Islamabad on its military capabilities.
