Pakistan’s increasing N-stockpile, new missiles cited by US Threat Assessment

The head of the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the DIS’s “Worldwide Threat Assessment” 2018, has highlighted the nuclear issue of Pakistan noting that “Pakistan is increasing its nuclear stockpile and developing tactical nuclear weapons and new ballistic missile systems.”

“In January 2017, Pakistan conducted the first test launch of its nuclear-capable Ababeel ballistic missile, demonstrating South Asia’s first MIRV payload, and in early July, Pakistan demonstrated an expanded-range Nasr CRBM,” says the report submitted to US Senate’s Armed Services Committee stated,
It stated that Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism have had some success in reducing violence from militancy and sectarianism.
“Islamabad is likely to proceed with its counterinsurgency operations and border management efforts along its western border while sustaining counterterrorism and paramilitary operations throughout the country. These efforts have had some success in reducing violence.”
Pakistan will look to the United States and the Afghan government for support against anti-Pakistan fighters in Afghanistan, it continued.
Discussing the Indian situation, the report stated, “India has put its first domestically built nuclear submarine, the INS Arihant, into service, and is set to take delivery of its second nuclear submarine, the INS Arighat, in 2018.”
The document also predicted that continued exchange of heavy fire between Indian and Pakistani forces along the Line of Control poses a risk of inadvertent or gradual escalation of hostilities.