Pakistan developing missiles that eventually can reach the US

20/12/2024 6:10

A senior White House

official on Thursday said nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing

long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could

allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including in

the United States.



In his stunning revelation about the onetime close U.S.

partner, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said

Islamabad's conduct raised "real questions" about the aims of

its ballistic missile program.



"Candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as

anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,"

Finer told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

audience.



"Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile

technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to

equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger

rocket motors," he said.



If those trends continue, Finer said, "Pakistan will have

the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia,

including in the United States."



His speech came a day after Washington announced a new round

of sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile development

program, including on the state-run defense agency that oversees

the program.