India Supersedes Pakistan In Nuclear Weapons Race, China Far Ahead: SIPRI Report

A recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) highlights the ongoing modernisation and expansion of nuclear arsenals among nine nuclear-armed nations, including India, Pakistan, and China.

The report reveals that China has increased its nuclear warheads from 410 in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, marking a major boost in its arsenal. Meanwhile, India now possesses 172 nuclear warheads, surpassing Pakistan by two warheads, with both countries continuing to develop new nuclear delivery systems.

Photo Credit: PTI

The SIPRI report reveals that Russia and the United States hold the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons, accounting for 90% of the total. Both nations, along with several others, have deployed new nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2023.

Additionally, around 2,100 nuclear warheads, mainly from the US and Russia, remain in a state of high operational alert, with China also likely maintaining some of its warheads on high alert for the first time.

The report also notes that India, Pakistan, and North Korea are beginning to follow the US and Russia's example by deploying multiple warheads on ballistic missiles.

Hans Kristensen of SIPRI said that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a faster rate than any other country.

"But in nearly all the nuclear-armed states there are either plans or a significant push to increase nuclear forces," Kristensen told PTI.