After treating friend Asim Munir to a sumptuous lunch, Trump now warns Pakistan over missiles that can strike US

Time of India

4 hours ago

Why is the US worried about Pakistan's nuclear missile program?
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How close is Pakistan to developing an ICBM?
Is China playing its long game to make Pakistan another proxy against the US?
Trump's message to Pakistan: Lunch one day, warnings the next
What is the broader context behind this move?
Has Pakistan signed any nuclear control treaties?
A global nuclear realignment may be unfolding
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In a development that's raising serious concerns in Washington, Pakistan is reportedly working on a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the continental United States, according to a detailed Foreign Affairs report citing US intelligence sources.The story has caught international attention, not just because of Pakistan's long-standing nuclear program, but because such a capability would mark a dramatic shift in how the United States sees Islamabad—from a key regional partner to a potential nuclear adversary.The report states that US intelligence agencies believe Pakistan is not only expanding its nuclear arsenal but is also developing ICBMs with the potential to hit targets across the Atlantic.'If Pakistan acquires an ICBM, Washington will have no choice but to treat the country as a nuclear adversary,' US officials told Foreign Affairs. 'No other country with ICBMs that can target the United States is considered a friend.'While Pakistan continues to insist that its nuclear program is designed solely to deter India, US agencies are not buying that narrative anymore. Instead, they believe Pakistan's missile development may be aimed at deterring US involvement in any future India-Pakistan conflict or a preemptive strike against its arsenal.The exact status of Pakistan's ICBM development is classified, but intelligence officials say the program is gaining momentum, with signs that Islamabad is sourcing critical technology and materials from China—a long-time ally.This push for a long-range missile capability reportedly intensified after Operation Sindoor, a covert operation that rattled Pakistan's military establishment, though the report didn't disclose specific details about that mission.At present, Pakistan is estimated to possess about 165 nuclear warheads, according to global defense analysts. Most of its current missile systems are medium-range, designed to counter threats from India. But the development of an intercontinental missile would represent a significant strategic leap.This is the question now dominating discussions inside US strategic circles.The Foreign Affairs report suggests that Beijing's involvement in Pakistan's missile program is deeper than previously thought. Intelligence sources point to covert transfers of missile materials, nuclear assistance, and joint development activities.China and Pakistan have long maintained close military ties, often described as 'higher than the Himalayas' by both governments. But this new cooperation—if tied to ICBM development—may signal a strategic shift by China to position Pakistan as a nuclear-armed proxy capable of putting pressure on the US from the West, while China and Russia ramp up pressure from the East and North.With China expanding its own nuclear arsenal and Russia pulling out of arms control treaties, Pakistan's ICBM program could be part of a wider global strategy—one where the US faces nuclear threats on multiple fronts.'If Pakistan joins the club of countries that can strike the US homeland, the strategic landscape will shift significantly—and not in Washington's favor,' one senior US defense official was quoted as saying in the report.Interestingly, this rising tension follows a private lunch between Donald Trump and Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, according to sources familiar with recent events. While the gesture seemed warm at the time, the tone has shifted quickly.President is now said to be alarmed by the intelligence shared with him and has reportedly warned that the United States will not tolerate any attempt by Pakistan to become a long-range nuclear threat.The new revelations come at a time when the global nuclear order is under increasing strain. The report notes that as Russia walks away from arms control agreements and China rapidly expands its nuclear stockpile, the United States now faces a multi-front nuclear challenge—from two great powers and several regional threats, including North Korea, Iran, and now possibly Pakistan.'Mounting nuclear dangers now lurk in every region of vital interest to the United States,' the report warns.Pakistan's nuclear journey began in the early 1970s, shortly after India's first nuclear test in 1974. In response, Islamabad accelerated its own efforts, culminating in six nuclear tests in May 1998, which formally made it the seventh nuclear power in the world.Since then, the country has developed a range of nuclear delivery systems, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and tactical nukes designed for use on the battlefield.No. Pakistan is not a signatory to either the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). It has long argued that such agreements would unfairly restrict its sovereign right to maintain national security, especially given its tense relationship with India over Kashmir.This policy makes it harder for the international community to enforce transparency or restrictions on Pakistan's nuclear development.As the US navigates an increasingly dangerous global security environment, Pakistan's push for an ICBM adds one more unpredictable element. Beijing's quiet support, Russia's growing defiance, and North Korea's frequent missile tests are already challenging Washington's post-Cold War dominance.Now, with Islamabad entering the long-range missile race, the United States faces the possibility of a multi-vector nuclear threat—all happening as traditional arms control treaties collapse.This is no longer just about India and Pakistan.It's becoming a part of a larger geopolitical chessboard—one that China might be orchestrating, piece by piece.US intelligence reports suggest Pakistan is developing an ICBM capable of reaching the continental US.Because Pakistan may soon join the few countries with ICBMs that can directly target the US homeland.