India has maintained its status as a nuclear power for more than five decades, holding onto a weapons stockpile whose details remain officially undisclosed yet potent enough for military confrontations—especially with its neighbor Pakistan, which frequently clashes with India over territorial disputes in Kashmir.
Why It Matters
Last week,
animosities reignited
Following the incident where Islamist extremists opened fire and murdered 26 individuals in Pahalgam, which is part of the Indian-controlled portion of the contested Jammu and Kashmir area.
Intense verbal confrontations arose from Hindu-dominated India and Muslim-dominant Pakistan, both
countries that have shown belligerence
due to their competing claims over the Kashmir region—ever since they both gained independence from Great Britain in 1947.
On Wednesday, Pakistan claimed it possessed “reliable information” suggesting that India plans to launch military operations against them within the next “24-36 hours.” This move is alleged to be based on unfounded accusations regarding their supposed involvement in the Pahalgam incident, as reported by Reuters.
What To Know
In 1974, India conducted its initial test of a nuclear device, making it the sixth nation to explode such a weapon. While estimates suggest their stockpile spans between 10 to 40 kilotons, precise figures are not available, as stated by The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
Although India hasn’t publicly disclosed the precise count of its nuclear arsenal, estimates from the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists suggest that the country had approximately 160 nuclear warheads as of 2022.
They mentioned that at that time, India was producing sufficient military plutonium, around 700 kilograms, to potentially manufacture between 140 and 210 nuclear warheads—a figure corroborated by the International Panel on Fissile Materials.
India can deploy around 48 nuclear weapons using the aged Mirage 2000H/I, Jaguar IS/IB, and possibly the French-built Rafale jets, as stated by the Nuclear Information Project. These initial two models entered service in the early ’80s with respective ranges of 1,850 and 1,600 kilometers. The Rafale boasts an approximate operational distance of 2,000 kilometers.
As of 2022, there were 64 land-based missiles.
“In a
nuclear exchange
, which we sincerely hope won’t occur, India holds a significant advantage since Pakistan’s urban areas are within range of Indian planes and ballistic missiles—while numerous Indian population centers would be challenging to target from Pakistani soil,” John Erath, senior policy director at the non-profit organization Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, stated.
.
He stated: “The genuine—I dislike using this term—pivot point of the Pakistani state lies in Punjab, which is quite near the Indian border. Therefore, Indian aircraft could potentially access these key areas of Pakistani identity without much difficulty.”
Erath stated that India’s nuclear policy has remained fairly steady in not aiming to employ these arms as a means of deterrence, whether against Pakistan or China—both countries having had periodic skirmishes over borders involving sporadic gunfire without leading to significant combat.
“China possesses a large and expanding arsenal of nuclear weapons, which causes significant anxiety for India as either nation with shared borders might inadvertently escalate tensions leading to a potential nuclear retaliation,” he stated. “Although China maintains a ‘no first use’ doctrine regarding their nuclear arms, it’s becoming harder to take this pledge at face value.”
What People Are Saying
The U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce indicated:
The U.S. supports India, firmly denouncing every terrorist action. Our thoughts go out to those who were lost and we hope for the healing of the wounded. We also demand that those responsible for this atrocious deed face justice.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated:
The strengthening ties between our nations over the past ten years have contributed to America’s decision to classify India as a Major Defense Partner — a category it leads.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated:
We vehemently denounce the assault. China resolutely condemns every type of terrorism. We grieve over the lives that were lost and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have suffered losses as well as those who were wounded.
What Happens Next
From the U.S. viewpoint, nuclear provocations will be a key focus for diplomatic efforts, as American leadership has consistently backed India because of their long-term partnership. This scenario’s consequences won’t merely affect South Asia; they might also redefine international security dynamics, notably amid China’s increasing presence in the area.
Related Articles
- How India’s and Pakistan’s Military Forces Stack Up Amid Rising Nuclear Concerns
- Exclusive: Pakistan Urges Trump to Aid in Averting Nuclear Conflict with India
- U.S. Attempts to Ease India-Pakistan Strains as Concerns Over Nukes Rise
- Pakistan Prepared for Indian Military Assault
Start your unlimited trial
Leave a Reply