US report flags Pakistan’s nuclear push, deep China ties, and view of India as top threat

Pakistan continues to view India as an existential threat and is ramping up efforts to modernise its military capabilities, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, according to the latest World Threat Assessment report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The report warns that Islamabad remains focused on offsetting India’s conventional military superiority through both strategic and tactical nuclear advancements.

The document states that Pakistan is actively modernising its nuclear arsenal, securing its nuclear infrastructure, and pursuing technologies and materials related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) through foreign intermediaries. It further highlights that many of these materials are sourced from China and transshipped through countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE.

A key point in the report is the close strategic alignment between Pakistan and China. Pakistani forces conduct multiple joint military exercises annually with China’s People’s Liberation Army, including a significant air exercise held in November 2024. The report describes Pakistan as a major recipient of China's military and economic support, reinforcing Islamabad’s strategic capabilities.

However, the relationship between the two nations is not without tension. Repeated terror attacks on Chinese workers involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects have become a major point of strain. In 2024 alone, seven Chinese nationals were killed in such attacks, indicating rising friction despite deep cooperation.

The report paints a picture of a security environment in South Asia driven by mistrust, nuclear brinkmanship, and strategic dependency. It underscores that Pakistan’s dual-track strategy of internal military growth and external reliance on China will likely shape the region’s geopolitical risks in the coming years.