India has dismissed U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's recent characterization of Pakistan as a top nuclear threat, emphasizing Islamabad's well-documented history of nuclear proliferation and regional instability. Gabbard, presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment to the Senate Intelligence Committee on March 17, grouped Pakistan with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as nations developing missile systems capable of striking U.S. soil.
She specifically highlighted Pakistan's advancing long-range ballistic missile program, warning it could evolve into intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) threatening the American homeland. The report projects these collective threats expanding from over 3,000 missiles currently to more than 16,000 by 2035.
At a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal countered by pointing to Pakistan's track record, including its supply of nuclear technology to proliferator networks like A.Q. Khan's and repeated threats against India. India views such U.S. assessments as validation of its concerns over Pakistan's opaque arsenal, estimated at 170 warheads, amid ongoing border tensions and past crises like the 2019 Pulwama attack aftermath. Jaiswal stressed that New Delhi's no-first-use policy contrasts with Pakistan's tactical nuclear posture designed for South Asian battlefields.
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The exchange underscores persistent India-Pakistan nuclear risks, with the U.S. report noting their rivalry as a flashpoint for potential conflict, despite President Trump's recent de-escalation efforts. Pakistan has historically rejected similar American claims as biased, asserting its capabilities target only India for credible deterrence, not global projection. Gabbard's testimony also flagged broader concerns like China's hypersonic advancements and North Korea's existing ICBMs.
India maintains robust defenses, including the Agni-V ICBM and BrahMos missiles, while advocating global non-proliferation. Gabbard's inclusion of Pakistan drew domestic pushback there, with former diplomats calling it strategically exaggerated. The remarks coincide with heightened scrutiny of South Asian stability amid the ongoing Iran war's ripple effects.
As nuclear modernization accelerates regionally, India's response reaffirms its strategic vigilance without escalating rhetoric. Both nations continue expanding arsenals, but diplomatic channels remain open to avert crises, per U.S. intelligence observations.
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