Pakistan slams US allegations on missile capabilities, warns against damaging bilateral ties

Pakistan has described as "unfortunate" the recent comments made by a US official regarding its missile capabilities and delivery systems, warning that such "unfounded" allegations would harm the overall relationship between the two countries.

Earlier the US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer accused Pakistan of developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities, which he claimed could eventually target regions beyond South Asia, including the United States.

In a statement responding to media queries about Finer's remarks, Pakistan’s foreign office said the US official’s comments were "unfortunate" and lacked "rationality and sense of history." It added that the claims were "unfounded" and warned that such allegations could damage the positive relationship that has existed between Pakistan and the US since 1954.

The foreign office stressed that Pakistan has "never had any ill-intention towards the US" and that this reality remains unchanged. It further pointed out that Pakistan has made significant sacrifices for this relationship and continues to suffer the consequences of US policies in the region.

It also expressed regret that the US official had seemingly equated Pakistan with adversarial nations, and addressed concerns over Pakistan’s missile capabilities, which it said were being raised "at the behest of others" to destabilise the already fragile strategic balance in the region. In a veiled reference to India’s missile programme, the statement highlighted the discrepancy in US concerns over Pakistan’s capabilities, which are intended solely for the defence of the country’s sovereignty and regional peace.

The office reaffirmed Pakistan's right to develop its strategic capabilities to maintain credible minimum deterrence and respond to evolving threats. "Pakistan will not tolerate any intrusion into its missile programme," the statement said, stressing that there is strong national consensus on this issue.

Despite these concerns, Pakistan reiterated its willingness to engage constructively with the US on all matters, including security and regional stability, building on the longstanding history of cooperation between the two nations.