A chilling US intelligence report has flagged Pakistan’s missile program as a potential direct threat to the American mainland, escalating concerns over South Asian proliferation. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered this sobering assessment to lawmakers, framing it as part of escalating worldwide perils.
During her presentation of the 2026 threat evaluation to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard spotlighted how Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile advancements could evolve into intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with US-reaching range. This places it alongside heavyweights like China, Russia, and North Korea in the pantheon of strategic worries.
‘Pakistan is steadily acquiring cutting-edge missile tech that empowers strikes beyond South Asia,’ the report warns. Continued progress could render the US a viable target, compelling American strategists to recalibrate defenses.
Gabbard outlined parallel threats: Beijing and Moscow crafting hypersonic and advanced delivery vehicles to pierce US shields; Pyongyang’s existing ICBMs paired with nuclear buildup. By 2035, missile threats to the US could surge to over 16,000 from today’s 3,000-plus tally.
The report scrutinizes South Asia’s powder keg dynamics. India-Pakistan nuclear brinkmanship endures, fueled by historical clashes and terrorism. The Pahalgam attack exemplified how militants can spark escalations, though recent US diplomatic nudges under Trump averted disaster. Still, flashpoints abound.
Pakistan-Taliban frictions add fuel to the fire. Border skirmishes peaked with the Taliban’s February 26 strikes on Pakistani bases, met by Islamabad’s unprecedented bombings of Afghan cities. Ongoing hostilities underscore Islamabad’s grievances over Taliban-hosted anti-Pakistan groups, despite calls for dialogue.
America’s secure nuclear triad offers deterrence, Gabbard assured, but innovative missile programs from multiple foes—encompassing nuclear, conventional, and novel warheads—test these safeguards. The intelligence community’s verdict: vigilance is paramount as Pakistan’s capabilities mature, potentially reshaping global threat matrices and demanding proactive countermeasures.