Pakistan Secretly Develops ICBM Capable of Reaching US, US Intelligence Reveals

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A recent report by US intelligence agencies has made a sensational claim. According to the report, the Pakistani army is secretly developing a nuclear missile that is capable of hitting the United States. The report also states that this missile of Pakistan is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying nuclear weapons. This report by US agencies has come at a time when there are reports that after India's Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is trying to further upgrade its nuclear arsenal with the help of China. This report has been published in the prestigious American magazine 'Foreign Affairs'.

The report quoted US officials as saying that if Pakistan develops such a missile, Washington will declare it a 'nuclear enemy country'. It should be noted that any country possessing nuclear weapons which is considered a threat to it by the US is declared a nuclear enemy or enemy nation. Currently, Russia, China and North Korea are considered to be anti-US countries.

Quoting US officials, the report also said, "If Pakistan gets an ICBM, Washington will have no choice but to consider it a nuclear adversary. Any other country with an ICBM that targets the US cannot be considered a friend."

However, Pakistan has long been claiming that its nuclear program is solely aimed at deterring India and for this reason it has so far focused on the development of short and medium-range missiles. But the US is concerned about Pakistan's efforts to secretly develop intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons. Experts believe that Pakistan's move may be an attempt to put pressure on the US or send it a message that it should not take India's side in case of tension between India and Pakistan and secondly, the US should not try to destroy Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Currently, Pakistan has about 170 nuclear weapons.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) can be equipped with both nuclear and conventional warheads. These missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 5,500 kilometers. Pakistan currently has no ICBMs. In 2022, Pakistan tested the Shaheen-III, a surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile that can hit targets at a distance of more than 2,700 kilometers. The Shaheen-III's range is believed to include several Indian cities.