WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Pakistan sustained its nuclear modernisation efforts last year despite its economic turmoil as its contentious relationship with India continues to drive its defence policy, the top U.S. intelligence official told Congress.

The remarks by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, came during a Congressional hearing on China on April 15.

Lt. Gen. Kruse told lawmakers that Pakistan has sought international support, including from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to resolve its dispute with India about Kashmir. Separately, Islamabad and New Delhi have maintained an uneasy ceasefire along the shared Line of Control (LoC) since February 2021, he said.

"Pakistan has sustained its ...