India surpasses Pakistan in nuclear weapons stockpile in 2024

India has overtaken Pakistan in the number of nuclear weapons in 2024, a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed on Wednesday.

The report, which assessed the state of armaments, disarmament and international security, highlighted the escalating nuclear arms race, with nations expanding their arsenals amidst deteriorating geopolitical relations.

According to SIPRI's annual assessment, the United States leads the list with the most nuclear warheads, followed by Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

The report noted that the role of nuclear weapons has become more prominent, with an "increase in their number and types as states deepen their reliance on nuclear deterrence."

"While the global total of nuclear warheads continues to fall as cold war-era weapons are gradually dismantled, regrettably we continue to see year-on-year increases in the number of operational nuclear warheads," SIPRI Director Dan Smith said.

The report revealed that India slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2023, with a focus on longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets throughout China.

India is also developing new types of nuclear delivery systems, including the capability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's nuclear arsenal remains smaller than India's, but the report does not provide exact numbers.

China's nuclear arsenal has increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, while North Korea is estimated to possess around 50 warheads, with enough fissile material to reach up to 90 warheads.

The report expressed concern over the increasing number of operational nuclear warheads, with nearly 9,585 warheads out of 12,121 in military stockpiles ready for potential use.