Pakistan Appears Rattled By India’s Growing Strategic Power, Says Nuclear Arsenal May Exceed Estimates

Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 23:51 IST

The statement came in the backdrop of SIPRI’s latest assessment, which estimated that India possesses around 190 nuclear warheads

Pakistan on Thursday appeared to publicly acknowledge the rapid expansion and growing sophistication of India’s strategic capabilities, even as it voiced concerns over what it described as the implications of New Delhi’s advancing nuclear posture.

In a statement that underscored Islamabad’s unease over India’s military modernisation, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the actual scale of India’s nuclear arsenal “may be larger than existing estimates", referring to figures published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The remarks are significant as they amount to a rare admission by Pakistan of the steady enhancement of India’s strategic capabilities across multiple domains. Islamabad said it was aware of developments including India’s canisterisation of missile systems, the expansion of its sea-based nuclear deterrent through nuclear-capable submarines, and the pursuit of increasingly longer-range missile systems.

“Pakistan is cognizant of the developments in India’s strategic capabilities, including India’s canisterisation of missile systems, the expansion of sea-based nuclear-capable submarines, and pursuit of increasingly longer range of intercontinental ballistic missile systems," the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan further noted that these developments were enhancing India’s “operational readiness"—an assessment that effectively acknowledges the increasing maturity and survivability of India’s nuclear triad.

The statement came in the backdrop of SIPRI’s latest assessment, which estimated that India possesses around 190 nuclear warheads. However, Pakistan argued that India’s actual arsenal could be larger than those estimates, reflecting growing concern in Islamabad over the pace of New Delhi’s strategic advancements.

Seeking to draw international attention to the issue, Pakistan urged countries supplying advanced technologies to India to consider the impact such capabilities could have on the regional security environment.

“The international community, particularly suppliers of high technologies to India, should understand the implications of advanced technologies and emerging capabilities being incorporated into India’s strategic posture," the statement said.

For strategic observers, Pakistan’s latest comments stand out less for the criticism and more for what they reveal—an acknowledgement that India’s deterrence architecture is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with improvements in readiness, survivability and reach.

India has consistently maintained that its nuclear doctrine is anchored in the principles of “credible minimum deterrence" and “No First Use". New Delhi has not officially responded to Pakistan’s latest remarks.

The episode highlights the continuing strategic competition in South Asia but also reflects the growing recognition within Pakistan of India’s evolving military and technological capabilities, particularly in the strategic domain.

About the Author

Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister...Read More

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