International News:Within three months of heightened tensions with India, Pakistan’s military and political leadership have issued alarming nuclear threats. Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir warned that the country could submerge half the world if its existence is threatened—a statement reminiscent of former Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning to the U.S. Munir has also targeted corporate figures, including Mukesh Ambani, putting major economic assets like Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery and key infrastructure at potential risk.
The comments have drawn strong reactions. A former Pentagon official described Munir’s threats as “Osama bin Laden in a suit,” while India’s Ministry of External Affairs termed the statements “grossly irresponsible” and “destabilizing.” Other Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Bilawal Bhutto, have also issued nuclear warnings.
Comparing India-Pakistan Nuclear Capabilities
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India currently possesses 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has 170. Though the numbers are similar, the technological and strategic capabilities differ significantly.
India’s arsenal includes 48 aircraft-based, 80 land-based, 24 sea-based, and 28 stored warheads. India’s Agni-V missile has a range exceeding 5,000 km and is equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology, allowing multiple targets to be hit with a single missile. India is also expected to deploy the Agni-VI missile by 2027, which will have a range of approximately 6,000 km.
In comparison, Pakistan possesses 35 air-launched, 126 land-based, and 8 stockpiled nuclear warheads but lacks any fully operational sea-based nuclear capability. It is developing the Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) with a reported range of 450 km, but progress has been slow.
India’s Strategic Advantage: Nuclear Triad Capability
India’s nuclear triad—capability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea—provides a crucial strategic advantage, including a secure second-strike capability via submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Pakistan lacks this capability and remains entirely dependent on land- and air-based delivery systems, leaving its nuclear arsenal vulnerable to preemptive measures.
Historical Growth and Technological Edge
Over the past 24 years, both countries have expanded their arsenals. Back in 2000, India’s nuclear arsenal stood at 35 warheads, while Pakistan held 48. By 2024, India’s inventory had expanded to 180, and Pakistan’s had risen to 172. SIPRI notes that India’s nuclear weapons are significantly more powerful than Pakistan’s in terms of destructive capability. India also possesses MIRV and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology, which Pakistan currently does not.
Symbolic Warnings by Pakistan
While Pakistan’s leadership continues to issue nuclear threats, India’s superior technological capabilities, second-strike readiness, and nuclear triad make these warnings largely symbolic. In strategic terms, Pakistan’s arsenal lacks the ability to match India’s comprehensive deterrence, rendering its threats more bluster than actionable danger.