Pakistan is secretly working on a powerful missile that can carry nuclear weapons and reach the United States, according to American intelligence agencies. This report, published by Foreign Affairs, comes at a time when Pakistan is believed to be upgrading its nuclear weapons with help from China, especially after India's Operation Sindoor.

The report quotes U.S. officials who say that if Pakistan builds such a missile, the U.S. may officially consider it a "nuclear adversary." This means Pakistan would be seen as a potential nuclear threat to the U.S., like Russia, China, and North Korea are today. The United States is concerned that Pakistan is secretly developing a powerful missile called an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which can travel over 5,500 kilometres and carry nuclear warheads. A US official stated that no country with ICBMs that can target America is considered a friend.

Until now, Pakistan has said its nuclear weapons are only for defending itself from India, focusing mostly on short- and medium-range missiles. However, by developing an ICBM, Pakistan could be trying to stop the US from attacking its nuclear sites and prevent US interference if a future conflict with India arises.

Last year, the US placed fresh sanctions on Pakistan’s long-range missile program. These sanctions targeted the National Development Complex, a government agency working on missiles, and three other companies. These sanctions freeze their assets in the US and prevent them from doing business with American companies. Pakistan called these sanctions unfair, but the US said it had proof that Pakistan was trying to get parts for its missile program.

Pakistan's nuclear weapons

Pakistan currently has around 170 nuclear warheads but is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Concerns about Pakistan's missile program have grown stronger after a US intelligence report claimed that Pakistan was receiving help from China to build dangerous weapons. This followed India’s Operation Sindoor, which reportedly alarmed Pakistan.

In 2022, Pakistan tested the Shaheen-III missile, which has a range of 2,700 kilometres, enough to strike deep inside India. But now, the development of an ICBM would allow Pakistan to target much farther locations, including the United States.