Fact Check: "US will treat Pakistan as a nuclear adversary if ICBM is acquired."
What We Know
The claim that the United States will treat Pakistan as a nuclear adversary if it acquires an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is supported by multiple sources. According to the 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, U.S. adversaries are actively advancing their missile capabilities, which poses a threat to the U.S. homeland. The report emphasizes that if Pakistan develops an ICBM capable of reaching the continental United States, it will be classified as a nuclear adversary by Washington. This aligns with a report from Foreign Affairs, which states that U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Pakistan is indeed working on an ICBM that could target the U.S. The report further notes that the U.S. would have "no choice but to treat the country as a nuclear adversary," as no other nation with ICBMs targeting the U.S. is considered a friend.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from credible sources, including U.S. intelligence assessments and expert analyses. The 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment is a formal document that outlines potential threats to U.S. national security, making it a reliable source. The assertion that Pakistan's development of an ICBM would change its status in the eyes of the U.S. is echoed in the report from Foreign Affairs, which cites U.S. intelligence sources directly.
However, it is important to consider the context in which these statements are made. The U.S. has historically viewed Pakistan's nuclear capabilities with concern, especially given its ongoing tensions with India. The narrative that Pakistan's nuclear program is primarily aimed at deterring India is acknowledged, but the potential for a broader threat to the U.S. is also recognized.
Critically, while the sources cited are credible, they reflect a specific viewpoint that may be influenced by current geopolitical dynamics. For instance, the report highlights concerns about the growing nuclear capabilities of not just Pakistan, but also China and Russia, suggesting a broader context of U.S. security concerns rather than a singular focus on Pakistan.
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. will treat Pakistan as a nuclear adversary if it acquires an ICBM is True. This conclusion is based on credible assessments from U.S. intelligence and defense reports that explicitly state such a shift in classification would occur if Pakistan were to develop the capability to launch nuclear weapons at the U.S. The evidence indicates a clear understanding within U.S. defense circles that the acquisition of an ICBM by Pakistan would fundamentally alter its relationship with the United States.
