Pak Developing Long-Range Nuclear Ballistic Missile That Can Reach US
New Delhi : The Pakistani military is working on developing a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the continental United States. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which can be armed with both nuclear and conventional warheads, are capable of hitting targets over 5,500 km.
Citing US officials, if Pakistan successfully develops such a missile, Washington would classify the country as a nuclear adversary. At present, Russia, China and North Korea are considered adversarial to the US. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme began in the early 1970s, largely driven by regional tensions, particularly after India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974.
Pakistan has long relied on its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against India’s conventional military superiority, but this new development signals a dramatic escalation in the region’s arms race. Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions have long been a concern for Washington, especially as the country maintains a close relationship with China, which has its own growing nuclear and missile arsenal.
The China-Pakistan nexus plays a significant role in Pakistan’s nuclear strategy. While China has not publicly supported the development of Pakistan’s ICBM, its ongoing military assistance and economic investments in Pakistan have bolstered Islamabad’s defence capabilities. Experts suggest that China may have given tacit approval to Pakistan’s missile program, further complicating the security calculus for India and the US.
Read Also : Pakistan Army Major Who Claimed Abhinandan Varthaman’s Capture Killed In Encounter