Pakistan was blackmailing US to act against India, started developing Washington killer missile after…, and then…

The Pakistani government attempted to blackmail the Biden administration over India’s missile capabilities, a demand that the U.S. firmly rejected.

Islamabad: Relations between Pakistan and the United States have grown tense during the final days of the Biden administration. U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer recently revealed that Islamabad is working on developing nuclear missiles capable of targeting major locations in the United States. This indicates Pakistan’s plan to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). To achieve this, the country falsely portrayed its space program to the world. However, Washington uncovered the ploy and imposed strict sanctions on companies linked to the missile program.

According to Pakistani media, prior to this extreme plan, the Pakistani government attempted to blackmail the Biden administration over India’s missile capabilities, a demand that the U.S. firmly rejected. Frustrated by this rejection, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to develop missiles targeting the US.

According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Pak officials repeatedly requested Washington to halt India’s development of long-range missiles. However, the US dismissed this blackmail. Pakistani experts claim that the country then continued to accelerate its missile development program.

Pakistan’s Missile Strategy Backfires

Pakistan already has a Shaheen-III missile with a range of 2,750 kilometres, capable of targeting any part of India. Despite this, Islamabad is now developing missiles that can reach America, raising alarms in Washington. Notably, the country’s target could also include Israel.

Meanwhile, India is steadily enhancing its missile capabilities to counter the growing threat from China. This has led to increased efforts by these nations to counter New Delhi’s missile advancements. However, Pakistan’s missile gambit has ultimately backfired.

US-Pak Tension

Following the US Deputy National Security Advisor’s revelations, tensions between Washington and Islamabad have escalated. Pakistani analysts believe that the missile issue could remain contentious even under the Trump administration, potentially straining ties further.

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, also highlighted the challenge. According to Dawn, Pakistan and the US have been engaged in discussions over long-range missile development for the past two years.

US Takes Action Against China, Pakistan

When Pakistan refused to comply with US demands, Washington took stringent action against companies involved in the missile program. Adding to this, the US began to view Pakistan with a wary eye, as a potential danger on the radar.

Echoing this perception was America’s concern about the Shaheen-III missile, a concern they voiced as early as 2015 after Pakistan tested the missile. Ramp-up occurred in October 2023, when the Biden government tightened the screws further, by placing sanctions on three Chinese enterprises that were bolstering Pakistan’s missile programs.