At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a Pakistani journalist posed a question to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth referencing an alleged Indian Agni-6 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test with a range of around 12,000 km.

The journalist suggested that such a missile could potentially bring parts of the United States and Europe within reach and sought Washington’s reaction.However, the premise of the question was factually incorrect, as India has not officially announced or conducted any test of an Agni-6 missile.In response, Hegseth did not directly endorse the framing of the question and avoided singling out either India or Pakistan as a threat.He emphasised that both India and Pakistan are nuclear-capable nations and that each country perceives security threats from the other.

He added that the United States was not currently pointing fingers at either nation or categorising them as direct threats, while acknowledging their broader role in maintaining regional and global stability.The article highlights that confusion around the Agni-6 stems from speculation following India’s recent missile-related activities.

Earlier, there was widespread discussion about a potential Agni-6 test after DRDO officials indicated readiness for advanced missile trials and NOTAM alerts were issued.

However, the Indian government later clarified that the actual test conducted involved an advanced Agni-5 variant equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, also referred to as Mission Divyastra.This system demonstrated the capability to carry multiple warheads targeting different locations, enhancing strategic deterrence.India’s officially declared Agni-5 range remains above 5,000 km.The government has not confirmed any Agni-6 development or testing.

The exchange at the summit therefore reflected both misinformation in the question and the broader strategic sensitivity surrounding missile developments in South Asia.