Pak modernising nuclear arsenal; depends heavily on China's support: US Intel report

India Today

25-05-2025

Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal with military and economic support from China, and continues to view India as an existential threat, according to the latest World Threat Assessment report released by the US Defence Intelligence Agency on Sunday.The report specified that the Pakistani military's top priorities for the coming year are likely to include cross-border skirmishes with regional neighbours and the continued modernisation of its nuclear arsenal, among other objectives.advertisement"Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear command and control. Pakistan almost certainly procures WMDapplicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries," the report stated.
The report also highlights that Pakistan is obtaining materials and technology for developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) from China, with some of these transfers being routed through countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.According to the report, while China remains Pakistan's main supplier of military equipment, the relationship has been strained by a series of terrorist attacks targeting Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, emerging as a growing source of tension between the two allies."Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage," it said.What US Intel report say about India?advertisementThe report mentions New Delhi's response to a late April terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, when India launched missile strikes targeting terrorism-linked infrastructure in Pakistan.'The missile strike provoked multiple rounds of missile, drone, and loitering munition attacks, and heavy artillery fire, by both militaries from 7 to 10 May. As of 10 May, both militaries had agreed to a full ceasefire,' it stated.According to a recent intelligence report, India is prioritising the strengthening of bilateral defense partnerships across the Indian Ocean region in a strategic effort to counter Chinese influence.The report also notes progress in India-China border tensions. While both countries have agreed to disengage forces from two remaining friction points along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the underlying border demarcation dispute remains unresolved.Furthermore, the report added that India is expected to continue advancing its "Made in India" initiative to bolster its domestic defense industry, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and modernise its military.The Defence Intelligence Agency also highlighted recent developments such as the testing of the Agni-I Prime medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the Agni-V with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) and the commissioning of a second nuclear-powered submarine.Lastly, the report stated that India will likely maintain its strategic relationship with Russia through 2025 as even though New Delhi has decreased procurement of new Russian defense systems, it remains dependent on Russian spare parts.