Former FM Jalil Abbas Jilani Rebuts US Intelligence Claims Over Pakistan’s Missile Range

Former Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has formally dismissed assertions made by US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, who labeled Pakistan’s missile capabilities a potential threat to the United States homeland. In a sharp rebuttal issued on Thursday, JilUS Director of National Intelligence ani clarified that Pakistan’s strategic posture remains strictly regional and “India-specific.”

The diplomatic friction follows the release of the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, which includes Pakistan alongside Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as nations developing delivery systems capable of reaching the US.

US Assessment: ICBM Concerns

Presenting before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, DNI Tulsi Gabbard highlighted a shifting global missile landscape:

• Homeland Range: Gabbard testified that Pakistan is researching advanced missile delivery systems that “put our Homeland within range.”

• ICBM Development: The report suggests that Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program “potentially could include ICBMs” (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) capable of striking North America.

• Expanding Threats: The US intelligence community forecasts a sharp rise in global missile threats, projecting an expansion from 3,000 current missiles to over 16,000 by 2035 among the identified nations.

Pakistan’s Rebuttal: Credible Minimum Deterrence

Jalil Abbas Jilani contested the strategic logic of the US report, emphasizing that Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine is not designed for global power projection.

• India-Specific Focus: Jilani maintained that Pakistan’s capabilities are aimed solely at maintaining “credible deterrence in South Asia.”

• No Global Ambitions: He stated that the claim of Pakistan targeting the US homeland is “not grounded in strategic reality,” reiterating that the missile program is a defensive necessity against regional threats.

• Doctrine Consistency: Analysts note that Pakistan has historically maintained a policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence, focused on its immediate eastern neighbor rather than transcontinental reach.

Context of US-Pakistan Missile Tensions

The inclusion of Pakistan in the 2026 Threat Assessment follows a series of restrictive measures taken by Washington over the past 14 months:

• Previous Accusations: In December 2024, White House officials similarly accused Islamabad of developing long-range capabilities intended for targets outside South Asia.

• Sanctions Regime: Also in late 2024, the US imposed additional sanctions on four entities alleged to be contributing to Pakistan’s ballistic missile proliferation.

• Intelligence Gathering: Gabbard noted that the identified nations are likely studying US missile defense plans to shape their own development programs and assess American deterrence intentions.

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