India pips Pak in nuclear arms race: Report

NUCLEAR arsenals are being strengthened around the world, including in India which, with its 172 nuclear weapons, is now ahead of Pakistan and ranks sixth in the group of nine nuclear armed countries.

-  BALA CHAUHAN

The Swedish think tank 'Stockholm International Peace Research Institute' (SIPRI), in its 2024 Yearbook 'A compendium of cutting-edge information and analysis on developments in armaments, disarmament and international security', which was released on Tuesday, stated that "India slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2023. Both India and Pakistan continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system in 2023. While Pakistan remains the main focus of India's nuclear deterrent, India appears to be placing growing emphasis on longer-range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets throughout China."

India's nuclear arsenal rose from 164 warheads in January 2023 to 172 by the same month this year. Pakistan, with 170 warheads, has recorded no increase during 2023-24.