SOURCE: AFI
In the wake of the United States imposing sanctions on four entities linked to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, Pakistan has retaliated with accusations against its neighbor, India. The sanctions, aimed at entities including the National Development Complex (NDC) in Islamabad and three Karachi-based private firms, were announced by the U.S. Department of State, citing proliferation concerns related to Pakistan’s development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
The U.S. has expressed concerns that Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, including the SHAHEEN series, might pose an “emerging threat” to the United States, as articulated by Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer. The sanctions reflect a U.S. policy to curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has vehemently criticized the sanctions as “unfortunate and biased,” arguing that they undermine regional stability by accentuating military asymmetries. More provocatively, Pakistani officials and defense analysts have shifted the narrative, accusing India of developing missiles that could potentially reach the United States.
Pakistan has pointed out India’s Agni-VI missile program, claiming that this missile, with an alleged range of 10,000 kilometers, could target the U.S. mainland. The Agni-VI, an alleged project still under development by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been described as a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).
Analysts in Pakistan have questioned the U.S.’s strategic focus, suggesting a double standard in international nonproliferation efforts. They argue that while Pakistan’s missile capabilities are scrutinized, India’s more ambitious long-range missile projects receive less attention. This, they claim, could be due to India’s strategic partnership with the U.S., which they see as influencing the sanctions on Pakistan.
Pakistani officials have highlighted that such developments by India could disrupt the strategic balance in South Asia, potentially leading to an arms race with implications far beyond the region.
The U.S. has historically maintained a complex relationship with both Pakistan and India, balancing strategic interests with nonproliferation policies. While there has been no immediate public response from the U.S. to Pakistan’s counter-claims, the focus on Pakistan’s missile program is part of broader efforts to ensure global security through arms control.
India, for its part, has not officially commented on the Agni-VI range specifications as mentioned by Pakistan but has maintained that its missile programs doesn’t exists
This exchange underscores the tension in South Asia, where nuclear capabilities and missile technology are central to the security dynamics between India and Pakistan. It also highlights the challenges the international community faces in managing nuclear proliferation while navigating geopolitical alliances.