For India, China Is Primary Adversary, Pakistan An Ancillary Security Problem: US Report

Pakistan views India as an "existential threat" and New Delhi regards China as its "primary adversary", the US Defence Intelligence Agency said in its worldwide threat assessment report for 2025.

What's In The Report?

"India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries," the report read.

It comes amid India recently engaging in a conflict with Pakistan, backed by China in view of the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

"Following a late April terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi conducted missile strikes on terrorism-related infrastructure facilities in Pakistan. The missile strike provoked multiple rounds of missile, drone, and loitering munition attacks, and heavy artillery fire, by both militaries from 7 to 10 May. As of 10 May, both militaries had agreed to a full ceasefire," the report states.

Despite India and China deciding to diffuse tensions in border last year, the long-standing dispute between the two countries has not been resolved, the report read.

"India almost certainly will continue promoting its "Made in India" initiative this year to build its domestic defense industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernize its military India continued to modernize its military in 2024, conducting a test of the nuclear-capable developmental Agni-I Prime MRBM and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle while also commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries," it said.

India-Russia Ties

The US report also mentions about India-Russia relationship, claiming that New Delhi views the ties with Moscow "as important for achieving its economic and defense objectives and sees value in the relationship as a means to offset deepening Russia-China relations". "Under Modi, India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment but still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain and sustain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and fighter aircraft that form the backbone of its military's ability to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan," it adds.

On Pakistan, the US report stated that Islamabad's priority is expected to remain cross-border skirmishes with regional neighbors, rising attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and Baloch nationalist militants, counterterrorism efforts, and nuclear modernisation. "Despite Pakistan's daily operations during the past year, militants killed more than 2,500 people in Pakistan in 2024."

"Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernization effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage," the report claims.

Notably, the report states that Islamabad is modernising its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear command and control. It is almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries," the report says. It has to be noted that the WMD means Weapons of Mass Destruction.

"Foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's WMD programs are very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. However, terrorist attacks targeting Chinese workers who support China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects has emerged as a point of friction between the countries; seven Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan in 2024," it addes.

Talking about Pakistan's relationship with Iran, the report claims, "Pakistan and Iran have taken steps, including high-level meetings, to deescalate tensions after the two countries conducted unilateral airstrikes on each other's territory in January 2024 in response to cross-border terror attacks."

"In September 2024, Taliban and Pakistani border forces clashed near border posts, resulting in the death of eight Taliban fighters. In March 2025, Pakistan and the Afghanistan exchanged air and artillery strikes on each other's territory, each citing alleged militant infrastructure as the targets," it notes.