Sources: 
The latest US Defence Intelligence Agency's World Threat Assessment report highlights Pakistan's ongoing nuclear modernization, heavily supported by China both militarily and economically.
Pakistan perceives India as an existential threat, driving its pursuit of advanced battlefield nuclear weapons to counterbalance India's conventional military superiority. The report states,
"Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal with military and economic support from China" and continues to prioritize this effort amid escalating regional tensions.
China remains Pakistan's primary defense partner, with joint military exercises, including a new air exercise conducted in November 2024, underscoring deepening military cooperation. However, the relationship faces challenges due to terrorist attacks targeting Chinese workers involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with
seven Chinese nationals killed in Pakistan in 2024.
The report also reveals Pakistan's acquisition of materials and technology for weapons of mass destruction from China, often routed through third countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE.
This nuclear upgrade occurs amid broader regional dynamics, with India strengthening defense partnerships across the Indian Ocean to counter Chinese influence. The report underscores the complex security environment in South Asia, marked by Pakistan's strategic reliance on China and persistent India-Pakistan tensions.
"Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernization effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons," the report notes.
Despite cooperation, the terrorist attacks on Chinese nationals highlight vulnerabilities in the China-Pakistan alliance, complicating efforts to maintain regional stability.
Overall, the US intelligence assessment paints a picture of a militarily emboldened Pakistan, bolstered by China, navigating a volatile security landscape in 2024.
Sources: A US Defence Intelligence Agency report confirms Pakistan's nuclear arsenal modernization with Chinese military and economic support amid 2024 regional tensions. Pakistan views India as an existential threat and is developing battlefield nuclear weapons, while terrorist attacks on Chinese workers in Pakistan strain China-Pakistan ties.
