A senior White House official said on Thursday that nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing its long-range ballistic missile capabilities, potentially positioning it to strike regions outside of South Asia, including the United States.
Pakistan’s missile development, as highlighted by Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, had started to pose a growing threat to US security. In a speech delivered to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Finer commented that Pakistan’s behavior related to its ballistic missile program had raised grave questions over its intentions.
“This is frankly, not easy for us to view Pakistani actions in any other light but as an emerging threat to the US,” Finer said. He pointed out the country’s advancement in producing more sophisticated missile technology, long-range systems, and even equipment that will test larger rocket motors.
Finer said if these trends persist, Pakistan can soon become a threat capable of reaching areas beyond South Asia and into the US mainland.
His comments follow on the heels of Washington’s declaration of fresh sanctions that are going to target Pakistan’s state-run defense agency responsible for its missile program. This falls within the larger move toward addressing weapons proliferation fears over mass destruction.
US, on the other hand, remains watchful as Pakistan develops missiles. It alarms over what such a situation might have on global security.
