US Intelligence Flags Pakistan, N.Korea Missile Developments
News Desk
Washington: The US intelligence community has highlighted a sharp rise in global missile capabilities, with over 16,000 missiles projected worldwide by 2035, up from just over 3,000 today.
Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate Intelligence Committee, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard emphasized that several countries, including Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea, are actively developing advanced missile delivery systems capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.
Gabbard noted that Pakistan’s evolving missile programme could eventually reach intercontinental ranges, although she stressed that the US maintains a secure nuclear deterrent to counter strategic threats.
“The number of missile threats is rising, and these nations are closely monitoring US missile defence strategies to inform their own development,” Gabbard said.
The report sparked debate among analysts and officials.
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Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Jalil Abbas Jilani, rejected claims of a direct threat to America, emphasizing that Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine remains India-centric and aimed at regional deterrence, not global power projection.
Turkish analyst Shaqeq-ud-Din also questioned the report’s focus on Pakistan, noting that the country does not currently possess intercontinental ballistic missiles, while pointing to India’s growing ICBM capabilities as a critical factor in South Asian security.
The assessment also underscored that South Asia continues to pose enduring security challenges. Relations between Pakistan and India remain tense, with the potential for escalation due to historical conflicts and the ongoing risk of terrorist provocations.
The report cited the 2023 Pahalgam attack as a recent example of events that could have triggered broader conflict, although US interventions helped deescalate tensions.
Meanwhile, cross-border instability between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains a concern.
The report highlighted Islamabad’s frustration with anti-Pakistan militant groups operating from Afghan territory and the ongoing need for the Taliban to sever ties with such groups.
Analysts say the intelligence assessment reflects not only concerns about missile proliferation but also the complex web of regional security dynamics in South Asia, where nuclear-armed states navigate deterrence, diplomacy, and counterterrorism challenges simultaneously. Additional input from Geo News website.
