The U.S. revealed the intelligence after Islamabad rebuffed confidential discussions about its missile program.

The U.S. is committed to maintain the global nonproliferation regime,” said Deputy Spokesperson Patel. “However, we have been clear and consistent about our concerns with Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program.

The United States has imposed sanctions targeting four Pakistani firms accused of being involved in Islamabad's ballistic missile program as the Biden administration targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Saturday dismissed as unfounded and "devoid of rationality" assertions by a senior U.S. official that its missile programme could eventually pose a threat to the United States.

The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing new sanctions related to nuclear-armed Pakistan's long-range ballistic-missile program, including on the state-owned defense agency that oversees the program.

The Biden administration said Pakistan is building a long-range ballistic missile that could provide the nuclear-armed country with the ability to strike the United States. The White House revealed the information about Pakistan’s clandestine missile activities and imposed sanctions on a state-owned business that is said be involved in the

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif criticized US sanctions on Pakistani firms over ballistic missile involvement, deeming them unjustified. Pakistan's Foreign Office called the decision biased and unfounded.