The Pakistani military is working to upgrade its nuclear arsenal following the recent clash with India — including the development of missiles that can reach the United States. Intelligence agencies in Washington have indicated that Islamabad is obtaining materials and technology for weapon development from China after being ‘rattled’ by Operation Sindoor. US officials also warn that Pakistan would be designated as a nuclear adversary if it develops the nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile.
According to a Foreign Affairs report, the Pakistani military is pursing efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the United States. Efforts to acquire its first such weapon were amped up recently following the clash with India. It has also rung alarm bells in the US — with officials citing the country’s close ties with China.
“If Pakistan acquires an ICBM, Washington will have no choice but to treat the country as a nuclear adversary. No other country with ICBMs that can target the United States is considered a friend,” the report quoted US officials as saying.
What are ICBMs?
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles or ICBMs are weapons that can cause massive destruction thousands of miles away from the launch site — making virtually any target in the world vulnerable. These deadly weapons have a range of at least 5,500 kilometres (currently going up to 16,000 km) and can be armed with both nuclear and conventional warheads. Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed state that does not currently have ICBMs. The military arsenal of the United States, Russia, China, India, France, UK, Israel and North Korea currently include such weapons.