Washington, D.C. | International Desk
Pakistan has been identified as a significant and evolving nuclear threat to the United States, with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issuing a stark warning during a Senate briefing on the annual threat assessment report.
The report, presented before the US Senate on Wednesday, underscores that persistent tensions between India and Pakistan continue to pose a potential risk of nuclear conflict. While both nations are assessed as not seeking direct confrontation, the presence of destabilising factors—particularly terrorist activity—remains a critical concern.
According to the 34-page assessment, the historical pattern of military confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours heightens the possibility of escalation. The report specifically references last year’s terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir as an example of how such incidents can rapidly inflame tensions.
The document notes that recent nuclear tensions were eased following the intervention of former US President Donald Trump. However, it cautions that underlying conditions still allow extremist elements to exploit regional instability.
It further highlights strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban, with ongoing cross-border clashes and Islamabad’s concerns over anti-Pakistan militant groups operating from Afghanistan. At the same time, Pakistan continues to grapple with a rise in domestic terrorist violence.
Addressing lawmakers, Gabbard warned that Pakistan is advancing its long-range ballistic missile programme, potentially developing capabilities that could reach the United States. She also projected a sharp increase in missile-related threats facing the US—from over 3,000 currently to more than 16,000 by 2035.
While reaffirming the strength of America’s nuclear deterrent, Gabbard cautioned that several nations—including Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan—are rapidly developing advanced missile systems capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional payloads, posing a growing strategic challenge to US national security.
