India beats Pakistan, increases its nuclear arsenal, reaches 190 warheads, where is Pakistan?

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Global distrust among nations is continuing to grow amid rising geopolitical tensions. Major world powers are increasingly focused on expanding and modernising their nuclear arsenals. Against this backdrop, a new report on nuclear weapons has emerged, revealing findings that have raised serious concerns worldwide.

SIPRI Report Released

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a leading global defence research organisation, has released its annual SIPRI Yearbook 2026. The report suggests that decades of international efforts to reduce the number and impact of nuclear weapons are now showing signs of reversal.

Nuclear Dependence Rising

According to the report, several countries are once again increasing their reliance on nuclear weapons for national security. Many nations are also modernising their nuclear arsenals to meet current military and strategic requirements.

India’s Arsenal Grows

One of the key findings of the report is that India has strengthened its position in South Asia’s strategic balance. India’s nuclear arsenal increased from 180 warheads in 2025 to 190 warheads in 2026.

India Ahead Of Pakistan

With this increase, India has moved further ahead of Pakistan in terms of nuclear warhead numbers. Pakistan’s arsenal remained unchanged at 170 warheads during the same period. The report highlights India’s steady and mature expansion of its strategic capabilities.

Continued Modernisation

Both India and Pakistan are continuing to modernise their nuclear forces and missile delivery systems. However, India now holds a clear numerical advantage with 190 warheads compared to Pakistan’s 170. SIPRI also points to important operational developments in India’s nuclear posture.

Global Stockpile Concerns

SIPRI estimates that the world’s total nuclear stockpile stood at 12,187 warheads in January 2026, slightly lower than the 12,241 warheads recorded a year earlier. However, experts warn that this decline may be misleading, as countries are slowing the dismantling of retired nuclear weapons while accelerating the deployment of newer and more advanced nuclear systems. This trend could lead to an increase in global nuclear stockpiles in the coming years.