A senior White House official has revealed that Pakistan is advancing its long-range ballistic missile capabilities, potentially posing a future threat to the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer’s remarks highlight the deteriorating relations between Washington and Islamabad since the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Finer noted Pakistan’s development of sophisticated missile technology, including larger rocket motors, which could eventually allow strikes beyond South Asia. This development raises questions about Pakistan’s strategic objectives, historically focused on countering India, a rival with whom it has fought three wars since 1947.
Finer emphasized that few nuclear-armed nations possess missiles capable of reaching the US, and these typically include adversaries like Russia, North Korea, and China. “It’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat,” he stated.
Following these comments, the US announced new sanctions on Pakistan’s missile program, marking the first time the state-run defense agency overseeing the program was targeted. The Pakistani embassy has not yet responded.
While Islamabad maintains its nuclear and missile programs are deterrents against Indian aggression, US concerns persist over the increasing size of Pakistan’s rocket engines. Officials argue these developments could pose a threat within a decade, prompting calls for Pakistan to clarify its intentions.
US-Pakistani relations have experienced fluctuations over decades, from Cold War alliances to tensions over military coups and nuclear ambitions. Pakistan’s close ties with China, a nation facing US sanctions for supporting Islamabad’s missile program, further complicate the geopolitical landscape.
Experts were surprised by Finer’s direct linkage of Pakistan’s missile developments to a potential threat to the US homeland, marking a significant shift in diplomatic discourse.
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