US intelligence sees Pakistan’s missile program as potential threat to US homeland

America’s top intelligence official has identified Pakistan’s missile program as a growing threat to the American homeland, according to a newly released assessment, highlighting growing strategic concerns in Washington.

Speaking at the presentation of the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Pakistan is among a small group of states whose weapons advancements could directly endanger the United States.

“The intelligence community believes” that Pakistan, alongside countries like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, is developing missile launch systems “that put our country within range,” she told lawmakers.

Missiles and increasing range

According to the US intelligence community’s assessment, presented in the report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), several countries are seeking a combination of “advanced” and “traditional” missile technologies capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional warheads.

The report highlights a broader trend of a sharp increase in the number of missile systems around the world that could potentially reach the United States in the coming decade.

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Pakistan is specifically cited as part of this evolving threat landscape, with U.S. officials increasingly concerned about the trajectory of its ballistic missile program. Previous U.S. assessments have warned that Islamabad is working on “increasingly sophisticated missile technology,” including longer-range systems that could eventually strike targets well beyond South Asia.

US threat perception

Gabbard’s remarks place Pakistan alongside major powers such as China and Russia, as well as North Korea and Iran, as the most significant nuclear and missile threats to the United States.

While much of Washington’s traditional focus has been on rivals like Beijing and Moscow, Pakistan’s inclusion reflects what analysts describe as growing concern over proliferation and technological advances in missile launch systems.

The ODNI report situates these developments within a broader security environment in which adversary states seek to increase their strategic reach, which could complicate U.S. missile defense planning and deterrence posture.

Senior U.S. officials have already described it as an “emerging threat,” citing work on long-range ballistic systems and large rocket engines that could expand strike capabilities.

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Islamabad, however, has rejected such characterizations, saying its nuclear and ballistic capabilities are designed for deterrence and regional stability, particularly vis-à-vis India. Washington-based academic Shuja Nawaz said in an interview with a local media outlet that the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of threat states is a “continuation” of previous US policy.

“This continues the Biden administration’s analysis of imposing sanctions on Pakistani entities and attempting to curb the acquisition of new technologies,” he said.

American academic Michael Kugelman said: “I wouldn’t overstate the importance here. Pakistan was not singled out exclusively; it was denounced along with other countries. »

Beyond state actors, the U.S. assessment also warns of threats from extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS, indicating that Washington continues to face a complex mix of conventional, nuclear and asymmetric challenges.

The report concludes that the convergence of these risks – from advanced missile systems to ongoing militant activities – represents a multifaceted threat environment that has the potential to shape U.S. national security priorities in the years to come.