Former foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Thursday dismissed remarks by the US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who suggested during a US Senate hearing that Pakistan’s missile capabilities could potentially reach the US homeland, saying the claim lacks strategic basis.

Jilani stressed that Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine is narrowly focused on India, aimed at ensuring credible deterrence within South Asia rather than projecting power beyond the region.

His comments came a day after the United States listed Pakistan among five countries posing notable security concerns. American intelligence assessments indicated that Islamabad, along with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, is developing a range of missile systems capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads.

Testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard stated that these countries are pursuing “advanced, novel, and traditional missile technologies” that could bring the US within striking range.

The assessment also suggested that Pakistan may be working toward intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities, though no technical details were made public.

US officials, however, identified China and Russia as the most immediate strategic threats, citing their rapid progress in advanced defense technologies. China was additionally highlighted as a key competitor in artificial intelligence, underscoring intensifying geopolitical rivalry.