Pakistan’s Missile Advancements Could Threaten U.S., Warns White House
A senior White House official has expressed concerns over Pakistan’s ongoing development of long-range ballistic missile capabilities, warning that the program could eventually enable Islamabad to strike targets outside South Asia, including in the United States.
Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Thursday, questioned the intentions behind Pakistan’s missile advancements.
“Candidly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Finer said. He noted that Islamabad has made significant strides in missile technology, including the development of sophisticated long-range systems and equipment capable of testing larger rocket motors.
“If these trends continue,” Finer added, “Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States.”
His comments came a day after the U.S. imposed sanctions targeting Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program. The measures include restrictions on the state-run National Development Complex (NDC), which oversees the program, as well as three private entities based in Karachi: Affiliates International, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, and Rockside Enterprise.
According to a State Department factsheet, the NDC has been actively seeking components for Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, along with equipment to support missile testing.
Pakistan, however, criticized the U.S. sanctions, calling them “unfortunate and biased.” In a statement, Islamabad said the move undermines the goals of peace and security in the region.
This development adds another layer of complexity to U.S.-Pakistan relations, which have seen increasing friction in recent years over defense, counterterrorism, and regional stability issues.
