Pakistan Modernising Nuclear Arsenal, Cross-Border Skirmishes To Remain Priority For Neighbouring Nation

New Delhi : Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal with military and economic support from China, and continues to view India as an existential threat, according to the latest World Threat Assessment report released by the US Defence Intelligence Agency on Sunday. The report specified that the Pakistani military’s top priorities for the coming year are likely to include cross-border skirmishes with regional neighbours.

“Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear command and control. Pakistan almost certainly procures WMDapplicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries,” the report stated. The report also highlights that Pakistan is obtaining materials and technology for developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) from China.

According to the report, while China remains Pakistan’s main supplier of military equipment, the relationship has been strained by a series of terrorist attacks targeting Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, emerging as a growing source of tension between the two allies.

“Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India’s conventional military advantage,” it said.