The United States Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has outlined the differing strategic priorities of India and Pakistan in its worldwide threat assessment report for 2025, identifying China as India&rsquo;s primary adversary, while Pakistan continues to regard India as an existential threat.
The report states, &ldquo;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&rsquo;s and Pakistan&rsquo;s militaries.&rdquo;&nbsp;
In contrast, the DIA notes, &ldquo;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&rsquo;s conventional military advantage.&rdquo;
The reference to cross-border violence concerns recent military engagements between India and Pakistan, triggered by a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in late April. In response, the report states, &ldquo;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 May 7-10. As of May 10, both militaries had agreed to a full ceasefire.&rdquo;
The DIA assessment suggests that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s defence agenda will likely continue to centre on strengthening military power, countering Chinese regional influence, and projecting India as a global leader. &ldquo;India is prioritising bilateral defense partnerships in the Indian Ocean region to counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role,&rdquo; the report states.
On the India-China border situation, the document observes that efforts at disengagement last year provided limited relief. &ldquo;Last year&rsquo;s disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from the 2020 clash,&rdquo; the report notes.
The agency expects New Delhi to expand domestic defence production under the &ldquo;Made in India&rdquo; initiative. &ldquo;India almost certainly will continue promoting its &lsquo;Made in India&rsquo; initiative this year to build its domestic defense industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernize its military,&rdquo; the report says.
Regarding India's strategic capabilities, the DIA confirms progress in nuclear and conventional arms development. &ldquo;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,&rdquo; the report states.
India&rsquo;s longstanding relationship with Russia also remains a significant component of its defence strategy. &ldquo;India will maintain its relationship with Russia through 2025 because it views its ties to Russia as important for achieving its economic and defense objectives and sees value in the relationship as a means to offset deepening Russia-China relations,&rdquo; the report says.
Although India has scaled down procurement of Russian-origin arms, Russian equipment continues to be crucial. &ldquo;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&rsquo;s ability to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan,&rdquo; the report adds.
On Pakistan&rsquo;s security posture, the report highlights a continued emphasis on military modernisation and nuclear deterrence, as well as internal security challenges. &ldquo;Pakistan military's top priorities are likely to remain cross-border skirmishes with regional neighbors, rising attacks by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and Baloch nationalist militants, counterterrorism efforts, and nuclear modernisation,&rdquo; the document says.&nbsp;
It adds, &ldquo;Despite Pakistan's daily operations during the past year, militants killed more than 2,500 people in Pakistan in 2024.&rdquo;
The assessment notes that Pakistan is actively upgrading its nuclear arsenal while securing its strategic assets. &ldquo;Pakistan is modernizing its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear command and control. Pakistan almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries,&rdquo; the report states, referring to weapons of mass destruction.
It further outlines Pakistan&rsquo;s close military ties with China, including joint exercises and technology transfers. &ldquo;Pakistan receives economic and military largesse from China and its forces conduct multiple military exercises with Chinese forces,&rdquo; the report says.&nbsp;
It adds that &ldquo;foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan&rsquo;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.&rdquo;
The report also highlights tensions in the China-Pakistan relationship due to domestic security threats. &ldquo;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,&rdquo; the DIA reveals.
The document also touches on Pakistan&rsquo;s regional diplomatic and military developments. &ldquo;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,&rdquo; the report notes.
Further tensions with Afghanistan are also detailed. &ldquo;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 Afghanistan exchanged air and artillery strikes on each other's territory, each citing alleged militant infrastructure as the targets,&rdquo; the report adds.
The Defence Intelligence Agency, part of the US Department of Defense, is responsible for providing military intelligence to support US national security and defence operations worldwide.
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US defence report reveals India prioritises China as main threat, while Pakistan continues to focus on India.

Pakistan Views India as Existential Risk: DIA

US defence report reveals India prioritises China as main threat, while Pakistan continues to focus on India.

May 25, 2025 | 23:30 IST