In a well known phenomenon in psychology and propaganda, repeated exposure to false statement or disinformation contribute to perception management and increasingly lead the people to accept it as truth. In Indian mythology the art of deceit, fabrication, deflection and falsification may be prescriptions for statecraft and governance which have now corrupted parts of Indian intelligentsia and electronic media. The recent example is the report co-authored by Vipin Narang and Pranay Vaddi (Indian origin Americans) and published in the July/August 2025 Issue of Foreign Affairs. Referring to anonymous US intelligence officials, the report alleges that Pakistan is developing ICBMs purportedly to deter the US and, if Pakistan acquired ICBMs, Washington would have no choice but to treat the country as nuclear adversary.
The slanderous campaign is indicative of India’s deliberate effort to malign Pakistan by undermining its constructive engagement with other countries especially increasing cooperative engagement with the US Having failed to browbeat Pakistan in February 2019 and more recently in May 2025, India’s frustration resulting from domestic political fissures, secessionist movements in over a dozen provinces in north east, illegal and unjust occupation of Kashmir and denial of their right to self determination, is understandable and the international community has run out passion with Indian machinations for geopolitical interests.
The international community is well aware about the rationale behind Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program, which have been developed in response to clear and visible existential threat emanating from India and its continued belligerence towards neighbors. Pakistan has formally declared that its nuclear and missile capabilities were India centric and that it had no extra regional power projection designs. Pakistan’s current short and medium range missiles are adequately capable to counter threats from India and therefore; neither has enough financial resources nor any desire to attract unwarranted animosity by developing ICBMs. Improving the socio-economic conditions and provision of basic amenities to a vast population are urgent priority areas for the state. Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine aims at warding off threats from India, it is therefore based on credible minimum deterrence. Since short and medium range missiles are considered sufficient for deterrence, it would be naive on part of Pakistan’s policy makers to provoke international backlash, weaken diplomatic position or draw undesired scrutiny. In practical terms ICBMs might not significantly enhance Pakistan’s deterrent capability given the existing balance of power so it does not hold any sense to boast a system that would not add any value to existing power balance.
While the US officials and media might have taken the report as normal analytic discourse, Indian spin masters are out to use it for malicious propaganda and churning out fallacious inferences. Who knows if the intent is to cover up India’s known forays into ICBM development. In the backdrop India’s hegemonic designs and the desire to become a world power with veto status, India is known to possess ICBMs in the form of Agni-V with ranges between 5500-8000 Kms. She is also ready to test more advanced versions such as Agni-VI with ranges exceeding 10000 Kms coupled with MIRV capability.
Pakistan enjoys good relations with US, China, Russia and other countries yet it does not want to become part of bloc politics. This has been reiterated on numerous occasions and national/international forums by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior Government representatives.
Strategic Vision Institute
Islamabad.
27 June 2025