Pakistan is reportedly advancing the development of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the continental United States, according to a recent report published by Foreign Affairs magazine. If confirmed, the move would mark a major expansion in Islamabad’s military capabilities and potentially alter global strategic dynamics, especially in South Asia. The development could prompt Washington to formally classify Pakistan as a nuclear adversary for the first time.
Experts caution that such a program, if successful, would raise serious concerns about regional arms races and global nonproliferation norms. Pakistan has long maintained a nuclear arsenal focused on deterring India, but the pursuit of an ICBM would suggest ambitions beyond regional deterrence. The U.S. has not officially responded to the report, but intelligence analysts are reportedly monitoring Pakistan’s missile infrastructure and long-range delivery systems more closely.
