More warheads, advanced missiles, give India a nuclear advantage over Pakistan.: SIPRI

New Delhi|June,16: India is enhancing its nuclear capabilities, with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reporting an increase in its nuclear arsenal from 172 warheads in 2024 to an estimated 180 in 2025. The country is also advancing its nuclear delivery systems, notably through the development of ‘canisterised’ missiles that can transport warheads safely and potentially carry multiple warheads per missile in the future. Key systems include the Agni Prime (Agni-P) missile, with a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers, and the MIRV-capable Agni-5 missile, which can strike targets over 5,000 kilometers away.
Pakistan is also expanding its nuclear capabilities, accumulating more fissile material and developing new delivery platforms, indicating a long-term intent to grow its arsenal. SIPRI highlighted the risks of escalation in conflicts between nuclear-armed neighbors, particularly following a military clash in early 2025. The report warns that strikes on nuclear infrastructure and misinformation could escalate conventional conflicts into nuclear crises.
In contrast, China’s nuclear buildup is accelerating, with an estimated addition of 100 new warheads annually since 2023. By January 2025, China had nearly completed around 350 new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos, potentially allowing it to match the ICBM numbers of Russia or the United States by the decade’s end. Despite this growth, China’s projected 1,500 warheads by 2035 would still be significantly fewer than those held by Russia or the US.
SIPRI’s Director, Dan Smith, expressed concerns about the weakening of nuclear arms control and the potential for a new arms race, particularly as China continues to expand its nuclear force. The global nuclear warhead inventory is estimated at 12,241, with about 9,614 in military stockpiles. The trend of dismantling warheads by Russia and the US has slowed, while new deployments are increasing, indicating a shift in the dynamics of global nuclear stockpiles. All nine nuclear-armed states are investing in modernizing their nuclear forces, which includes upgrading existing systems and introducing new technologies.