Washington: US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has named Pakistan among countries posing growing strategic concerns, warning that Islamabad’s evolving long-range missile capabilities could potentially bring the American homeland within range.
Global Missile Threats Including Pakistan
Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard also identified Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea as nations actively developing new missile delivery systems, including both nuclear and conventional warheads.
She stated: “The US secure nuclear deterrent continues to ensure safety in the homeland against strategic threats. However, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan have been researching and developing a range of advanced or traditional missile systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that put our homeland within range.”
Gabbard specifically noted that Pakistan’s ballistic missile program “potentially could include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)” capable of reaching the United States.
Rising Missile Threats
Gabbard warned that the number of missile threats facing the US is expected to rise sharply. The intelligence community projects that global missile inventories could exceed 16,000 by 2035, up from over 3,000 currently. The report also suggested that these countries would likely study US missile defense plans to guide their own programs and assess Washington’s deterrence posture.
Pakistan’s Response
Reacting to the report, former Pakistani ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani rejected the claim that Pakistan posed a direct threat to the US. He emphasized that Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine is India-centric and focused on deterrence, not global power projection, highlighting that Islamabad’s strategic posture prioritizes regional security.
South Asia Threat Assessment
The report also highlighted that South Asia remains a source of “enduring security challenges,” particularly the tense relations between Pakistan and India, which could escalate nuclear risks. It noted past conflicts and ongoing tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including Islamabad’s concerns about anti-Pakistan militant groups in Afghanistan and intermittent cross-border clashes with the Taliban.
