Washington (Agencies): A senior White House official has raised alarm over Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, calling it an “emerging threat” to the United States due to its growing capacity to strike targets beyond South Asia. The remarks come amid fresh US sanctions on Pakistan’s missile development program, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Islamabad.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace event on Thursday, highlighted Pakistan’s advances in missile technology as a serious concern. He warned that if these developments persist, Pakistan could possess the capability to hit targets “well beyond South Asia, including in the United States.”
“Candidly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Finer stated.
- Sanctions and Diplomatic Fallout
A day before Finer’s remarks, the US announced a new round of sanctions aimed at curbing Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program. The sanctions target key entities, including Pakistan’s state-run defense agency responsible for overseeing the missile program. The US justified the move by citing “the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan’s long-range missile development.”
Two senior US officials revealed to Reuters that concerns were particularly focused on the sizes of the rocket engines being produced in Pakistan, signaling a possible shift towards long-range missile capabilities.
- Pakistan Calls Sanctions ‘Biased’
In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry slammed the sanctions as “biased” and accused the United States of employing double standards in its arms control policies. The ministry argued that while the US imposes restrictions on Pakistan, it grants exemptions to other nations, undermining global non-proliferation regimes.
“Such double standards and discriminatory practices not only undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes but also endanger regional and international peace and security,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The imposition of sanctions and the harsh rhetoric from the US have further strained ties between Washington and Islamabad, which have faced several diplomatic challenges in recent years. Pakistan maintains that its missile development is essential for its national defense and regional stability.
The move also raises concerns about the broader impact on regional security dynamics, as Pakistan views its missile program as a counterbalance to India’s strategic capabilities. The latest developments could fuel further tensions in South Asia, especially amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in the region.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Pakistan will respond to the sanctions and whether diplomatic channels will be utilized to ease the growing rift between the two nations.