The US intelligence service marks Pakistan’s missile program as a potential threat to the US homeland

The top US intelligence official has identified Pakistan’s missile program as a growing threat to the US homeland, according to a newly released assessment that underscores growing strategic concerns in Washington.

Presenting the annual threat assessment for 2026, Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, said Pakistan was among a small group of states whose advancing weapons capabilities could directly endanger the United States.

“The intelligence community assesses” that Pakistan, along with countries including China and Russia, North Korea and Iran, are developing missile delivery systems “that put our homeland within range,” she told lawmakers.

Missiles and extended range

According to the US intelligence assessment, outlined in the report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), several countries are pursuing a mix of “advanced” and “conventional” missile technologies capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads.

The report highlights a broader trend, which is a sharp increase in the number of missile systems globally 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 US officials increasingly concerned about the trajectory of its ballistic missile program. Previous US assessments have warned that Islamabad is working on “increasingly sophisticated missile technology”, including longer-range systems that could eventually hit targets far beyond South Asia.

American threat perception

Gabbard’s remarks place Pakistan, along with major powers such as China and Russia, as well as North Korea and Iran, in the category of the main nuclear and missile-related threats to the United States.

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

The ODNI report frames these developments within a broader security environment in which state adversaries seek to increase their strategic reach, potentially complicating U.S. missile defense planning and deterrence posture.

Senior US officials have previously 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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However, Islamabad has rejected such characterizations, maintaining that its nuclear and missile capabilities are designed for deterrence and regional stability, particularly vis-à-vis India. Washington-based researcher Shuja Nawaz has stated while speaking to a local news organization that the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of states that pose a threat is a “continuation” of past US policy.

“This continues the analysis of the Biden administration that imposed sanctions on Pakistani entities and tried to slow the acquisition of new technologies,” he said.

American scholar Michael Kugelman stated, “I don’t want to exaggerate the significance here. Pakistan was not singled out; it was called out with other countries.”

In addition to state actors, the US 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 activity—represents a multifaceted threat environment that is likely to shape U.S. national security priorities for years to come.