Pakistan maintains its nuclear program despite economic turmoil: top US intelligence official tells Congress

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Cruz, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. file | Image Credit: AP

A US intelligence official told Congress that Pakistan continued its nuclear modernization efforts last year despite economic turmoil as its contentious relationship with India continues its defense policy.

Defense Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Cruz’s remarks came during a congressional hearing on China on April 15.

Lt Gen Cruz told lawmakers that Pakistan has sought international support, including from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to resolve its dispute with India over Kashmir. Separately, Islamabad and New Delhi have maintained an uneasy ceasefire along the Line of Shared Control (LoC) since February 2021, he said.

“Pakistan has maintained its nuclear modernization efforts despite its economic turmoil. Terrorist violence against Pakistani security forces and civilians increased last year,” he said.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Pakistan is reported to have 170 nuclear warheads by January 2023.

Cash-strapped Pakistan is banking on close allies like China and Saudi Arabia for loans to ease its financial woes. Furthermore, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has now discussed a new loan package with the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

Lt Gen Cruz told top US lawmakers that Pakistan’s contentious relationship with India is continuing its defense policy.

However, he said, cross-border violence between the countries has decreased since they recommitted to a February 2021 ceasefire.

“Islamabad is modernizing its nuclear arsenal and improving the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear C2 (command and control). In October, Pakistan successfully test-fired its Ababeel medium-range ballistic missile,” he said.

In 2023, militants killed approximately 400 security forces, a nine-year high, and Pakistani security forces have conducted daily counter-terrorism operations over the past year.

Islamabad and New Delhi have longstanding ties, mainly due to the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

In 2019, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two Union Territories.

India has said it wants normal neighborly relations with Pakistan, but insists Islamabad is responsible for creating an environment free of terrorism and hostility for such engagement.

New Delhi has asserted that the constitutional measures taken by the Government of India to ensure socio-economic development and good governance in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are internal affairs of India.