Air, land, water...: India can drop nuclear bombs from anywhere; what is India's MIRV capability and nuclear triad strategy, which can stun Pakistan?
India now has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan. (File)
India nuclear weapons Amidst the looming threat of a full-scale India-Pakistan war following the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack, a recent report has emerged that India now has more nuclear warheads than Pakistan, which could result in major change in the strategic balance in South Asia.
According to the latest report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), India has surpassed Pakistan in terms of the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country. The report, citing data revealed by Status of World Nuclear Forces report, said that India currently has around 180 nuclear weapons, compared to an estimated 170 nukes possessed by Pakistan.
This is the first time in nearly two decades that India has surpassed Pakistan in the nuclear arms race, the report said. India-Pakistan nuclear arms race
The nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan began as early as 1974 when India conducted its first nuclear test, and became the sixth world nation to do so. India's newfound nuclear abilities stirred panic in Pakistan, who started its own nuclear program which culminated in the country's first nuclear test in 1998.
Since that time, both nations have been engaged in a frantic race to build their nuclear stockpile, with Pakistan racing ahead to ensure its arsenal was always larger than that of India. But, instead of building more, India focused on quality rather than quantity, and ensured its nuclear arms were more advanced and deadlier than the enemy's. India's MIRV capability spells doom for Pakistan
Earlier this year, India shocked the world when it successfully tested the Agni-5 ballistic missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), joining a handful of elite nations that have this capability, including the United States, Russia, and China.
India's MIRV capability has shocked Pakistan and its 'all-weather ally' China, and its believed that the neighboring country is frantically trying to develop this technology, with China's help of course. India's nuclear triad and military power
India is also rapidly bolstering its military power, which is reflected by the $79 billion defense budget for the year 2025-26, compared to Pakistan meagre military budget of around $8 billion, means India is spending ten times more on its military than Pakistan.
Additionally, India is modernizing its Army, Navy, and Air Force, at a rapid pace, and is spending heavily on Rafale fighter jets, S-400 air defense systems, and advanced nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles.
In contrast, experts believe Pakistan is finding it difficult to maintain its nuclear deterrent capability, primarily due to lack of funds, and the current state of the country's economy.
India has successfully completed its nuclear triad capability, which means it has the ability to launch nuclear strikes from air, land, and sea, making it only the fifth country to achieve this ability after US, China, Russia, and France.
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