Pakistan Bolstering Nuclear Arsenal with Help from China
NEW DELHI, June 25: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and thrashing from Indian armed forces, Pakistan is reported to be looking to bolster its nuclear arsenal with support from China and is learnt to be working on developing a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the continental United States.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which can be armed with both nuclear and conventional warheads, are capable of hitting targets over 5,500 km.
According to a new report by Foreign Affairs citing US officials, if Pakistan successfully developed such a missile, Washington would classify the country as a nuclear adversary. At present, Russia, China and North Korea are considered adversarial to the US.
Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme began in the early 1970s, largely driven by regional tensions, particularly after India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. The country officially became a nuclear-armed state in 1998, after carrying out a series of six nuclear tests.
Sources close to the matter suggest that Pakistan’s decision to develop such a missile is a response to India’s growing military strength and its investment in advanced missile defence systems. Pakistan has long relied on its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against India’s conventional military superiority, but this new development signals a dramatic escalation in the region’s arms race.
Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions have long been a concern for Washington, especially as the country maintains a close relationship with China, which has its own growing nuclear and missile arsenal. Washington has expressed concern over Pakistan’s expanding nuclear stockpile, fearing that an ICBM could destabilise not just the region but also global security.
The China-Pakistan nexus plays a significant role in Pakistan’s nuclear strategy. While China has not publicly supported the development of Pakistan’s ICBM, its ongoing military assistance and economic investments in Pakistan have bolstered Islamabad’s defence capabilities. Experts suggest that China may have given tacit approval to Pakistan’s missile program, further complicating the security calculus for India and the US.
A key concern for both India and the US is the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. Given Pakistan’s history of instability and militant groups, the potential for terrorist infiltration or unauthorised access to such powerful weapons is a real worry. Experts fear that if Pakistan’s nuclear systems are not adequately safeguarded, it could pose a major risk not only for the region but also for the broader international community.
(Manas Dasgupta)
