JUST IN: U.S. Intelligence Warns Pakistan Developing Missiles Capable of Reaching U.S. Mainland

The United States has raised alarm over intelligence findings that suggest Pakistan is secretly advancing its missile technology to develop nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland.

In a major policy speech delivered in December 2024 at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer stated that Pakistan is working on “increasingly sophisticated missile technology,” including large rocket motors consistent with long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development.

“This emerging capability poses a serious concern,” Finer said. “If Pakistan’s current trajectory continues, it could possess missiles with the range to strike the United States within a decade.”

This revelation has triggered diplomatic ripples, with the U.S. government imposing sanctions on Pakistan’s state-run National Development Complex—an entity believed to be deeply involved in missile research and development. The sanctions, issued under Executive Order 13382, mark a rare move against a Pakistani government institution and reflect deepening concern in Washington.

Pakistan Denies Allegations

In response, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly rejected the claims as “baseless and irresponsible,” accusing the United States of stoking unnecessary tensions.

“These are unfounded accusations that do not align with Pakistan’s defense posture,” the Ministry said in a statement. “Pakistan’s missile program is solely defensive and aimed at maintaining regional deterrence.”

Strategic Concerns

Pakistan’s longest-known operational missile, the Shaheen-III, has a maximum range of approximately 2,750 kilometers (about 1,710 miles)—far short of the 9,000+ kilometers needed to strike the U.S. mainland. However, U.S. analysts believe recent technological shifts suggest a push toward next-generation capabilities.

“This is not an immediate threat,” one U.S. defense official clarified. “But it’s a trajectory we cannot ignore.”

Diplomatic and Military Implications

The development, if verified, could significantly alter strategic calculations in both South Asia and Washington. It would mark Pakistan’s entry into the club of nations with intercontinental strike capabilities—a status currently held by only a handful of states including the U.S., Russia, China, and North Korea.

Experts say the intelligence may also complicate U.S.-Pakistan relations, especially as Washington continues to recalibrate its strategic interests in Asia amidst rising tensions with China and Russia.