WASHINGTON: Pakistan has developed long-range ballistic missile capabilities that could eventually allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including in the United States, according to a senior White House official.
This shocking claim was made a day after Washington slapped sanctions on Pakistan’s state-owned missile development agency and three of its vendor companies.
Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer while speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, expressed serious concerns over Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, questioning its intent and terming it a potential threat to the United States.
Finer said Pakistan’s advancements in missile technology, including long-range ballistic missile systems and larger rocket motors, suggest it could soon target regions far beyond South Asia, potentially reaching the United States.
“These developments raise real questions about the aims of Pakistan’s missile programme,” Reuters quoted Finer as saying. “If these trends continue, Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond its immediate region.”
Finer’s remarks coincided with the US State Department’s announcement of sanctions against Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC) and three Karachi-based companies, Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, Affiliates International, and Rockside Enterprise. The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13382, targeting entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
US imposes more sanctions over Pakistan’s missile programme
While Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not immediately respond to Finer’s statement, it earlier criticized the sanctions as “discriminatory” and warned of their potential to worsen regional power imbalances.
At a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel reaffirmed US concerns about Pakistan’s missile programme, describing the sanctions as part of efforts to uphold the global non-proliferation regime.
“The designations reflect our long-standing concerns about Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missiles,” Patel said. “The US remains committed to protecting its national security and ensuring its financial systems are not exploited by proliferators. We aim to engage constructively with the Pakistani government on this issue.”
The move underscores growing US unease over Pakistan’s missile advancements amid calls for transparency and adherence to international security norms.