The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said Pakistan’s track record of clandestine nuclear proliferation poses a serious global threat, echoing concerns raised in a recent US intelligence assessment.
Addressing a regular press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to remarks by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and said Pakistan’s past continues to raise alarm internationally.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned, they have a history. They have a history of clandestine nuclear nonproliferation, and statements like this again make it clear what kind of threat they pose to the world because of their clandestine nuclear operations,” Jaiswal said.
The remarks come after a report issued on March 18 by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) classified Pakistan, along with Russia and China, among countries posing a significant nuclear threat to the United States.
Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Gabbard highlighted concerns over Pakistan’s evolving military capabilities, regional role, and links to terrorism.
The report noted that Pakistan is actively researching and developing a range of advanced missile delivery systems. It also flagged concerns that Islamabad’s long-range ballistic missile programme could potentially include Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the US.
“The US secure nuclear deterrent continues to ensure safety in the Homeland against strategic threats. However, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that put our Homeland within range,” Gabbard said.
The assessment further identified Pakistan as a continuing concern in the global fight against Islamist militancy. It said the US faces a complex and evolving threat landscape, with terrorist groups seeking to expand their global reach despite weakened capacities of al-Qaida and ISIS compared to their peak years.
The report specifically identified ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan Province) as a major external plotting threat in South Asia, noting that operatives are using ungoverned or poorly monitored regions for recruitment and planning.
It added that US military operations and cooperation with international partners in Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria in 2025 had eliminated key terrorist leaders, weakening the operational capabilities of al-Qaida and ISIS.
– Ends
