India, China, Pakistan's nuclear arms race amid tensions on the border

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

It has been a year since the conflict between India and China in the Galvan Valley. Tensions between the two countries have remained high during this time. In such an environment, there is competition between China, India and Pakistan to develop nuclear weapons. In terms of nuclear weapons, India lags behind its rivals China and Pakistan. However, in case of war, India has the potential to face both the countries together. Now, along with Agni-2 missiles and Raphael fighter, the nuclear-capable submarine INS Arihant has also been added to the navy. Thus, all three wings of the Indian Army are equipped with nuclear weapons.

Amid tensions between India and China, the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI) on Monday released the latest figures on nuclear weapons in the world, according to which China currently has 30, Pakistan has 12 and India has 12.

According to Sipri's report, the nine nuclear-armed nations have a total of 17,060 nuclear weapons, with Russia having the largest at 4.5 and the United States with 2.50. In addition, France has 40, Britain has eight, Israel has 40 and North Korea has 40-50 nuclear weapons. However, the organization did not claim that the figures were accurate. According to the organization, the figures are estimated as each country keeps its nuclear programs top secret.

The remaining seven countries, with the exception of Russia and the United States, are still building or deploying nuclear weapons. "China is halfway there to increase its stockpile of nuclear weapons and modernize them," Sipri said. It is competing with America in terms of nuclear weapons and its techniques. Pakistan is also increasing its nuclear weapons. India is also developing nuclear weapons.

Sipri's study also looks at the raw material reserves of countries that have their own nuclear weapons. India and Israel are the main producers of plutonium. Pakistan mainly produces HEU (sophisticated enriched uranium). The study noted that China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States have also produced both HEU and plutonium for use in their nuclear weapons.

Sipri said in a statement that the governments of India and Pakistan make statements about some of their missile tests, but do not provide any information on the status or size of their nuclear weapons. According to the SIPRI Yearbook 2021, out of a total of 17,060 global nuclear weapons, about 2,000 are on high operational alert. It also said that Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and China were the world's five largest importers of major weapons between 2015 and 2030. At the time, Saudi Arabia accounted for 11 per cent of global arms imports and India 2.4 per cent.