Pakistan developing missiles that eventually could hit US, top US official says By Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing a long-range ballistic missile capability that could eventually allow it to strike targets outside South Asia, including the United States, a senior White House official said on Thursday.

In his startling revelation about a once close US ally, Deputy National Security Adviser John Feiner said Islamabad’s behavior raised “real questions” about the goals of the ballistic missile program.

“Frankly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Feiner told a Carnegie Endowment audience.

“Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that will allow tests of significantly larger rocket engines,” he said.

If those trends continue, Feiner said, “Pakistan will have the ability to strike targets outside of South Asia, including the United States.”

His speech came a day after Washington announced a new round of sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program, including on the state defense agency that oversees the program.