India With 172 Nuclear Warheads Surpasses Pakistan After 25-years: SIPRI

For the first time in 25 years, India has surpassed Pakistan in the number of nuclear weapons. According to a leading global tracker, India now has 172 warheads, compared to Pakistan's 170.

A recent report by the arms tracker SIPRI also indicates that China has put its nuclear weapons on high operational alert. This means China has paired its warheads with delivery systems like long-range missiles for quick strikes. The report suggests that India might be following a similar path, moving towards pairing some of its warheads with their launchers even during peacetime. This aligns with the broader trend of countries strengthening and modernising their nuclear arsenals due to rising geopolitical uncertainties.

"India has typically kept its nuclear warheads separate from its deployed launchers during peacetime," the report states. "However, recent actions such as placing missiles in canisters and conducting sea-based deterrence patrols suggest a shift towards mating some warheads with their launchers."

India's nuclear delivery systems include fighter jets, land-based ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched missiles.

The SIPRI report notes that India has added eight nuclear warheads in the past year, increasing from 164 to 172, while Pakistan's stockpile remains at 170. Since 2014, when India had about 100 warheads, the country has steadily increased its stockpile to close the gap with Pakistan. This is the first time since 1999 that India's stockpile has surpassed Pakistan's.

The report also highlights that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country, growing from 410 warheads in 2023 to 500 this year. For the first time, China may now be deploying a small number of warheads on missiles during peacetime.

"China's recent moves to place solid-fueled missiles in silos, conduct sea-based deterrence patrols, and potentially develop a launch-on-warning capability suggest it might have started mating a small number of warheads—possibly around 24, corresponding to one missile brigade and one fully loaded ballistic missile submarine—with their launchers," the report concludes.

Sangeet Kumar Sanu

BW Reporters Sangeet Kumar Sanu as a Correspondent reports on Defence, Space and Foreign Affairs for BW since 2022.