Tulsi Gabbard flags Pakistan as major nuclear threat to US alongside China and Russia

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard -- File Photo

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday identified Pakistan as one of the most significant nuclear threats facing the United States, placing it alongside major powers such as Russia and China.

Gabbard also pointed to growing concerns over missile capabilities being developed by several countries, including Iran.

"The intelligence community assesses that Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems, with nuclear and conventional payloads, that put our homeland within range," Gabbard said.

Gabbard told lawmakers that US intelligence expects a sharp rise in missiles capable of reaching the United States, with the number projected to exceed 16,000 by 2035, up from about 3,000 today.

During the briefing, Gabbard also highlighted North Korea’s strengthening ties with both Russia and China, indicating deeper strategic coordination among countries viewed as adversaries by Washington.

On Iran, Gabbard reiterated the US position that its nuclear capabilities have been severely degraded.

She said the United States "obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment programme in June last year and added that there has been no evidence of efforts to rebuild those capabilities since then.

In prepared testimony to a Senate panel, she said this reflects growing concerns about the rapid expansion of global missile arsenals and continuing regional threats despite recent military strikes.

Gabbard’s comments come months after US President Donald Trump made similar claims about nuclear threats.

In November last year, Trump said that Pakistan was among the countries actively testing nuclear weapons. He had also named Russia, China and North Korea in the same context.