Updated January 2023 India tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974, becoming the sixth country to detonate a nuclear weapon. The country’s arsenal carries weapons with estimated average yields ranging from 10 to 40 kilotons, though exact yields are unknown. India is pursuing membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and became a member of the Missile […]
Fact Sheet: Escalating Tensions Over Kashmir
Updated December 2024 India and Pakistan, which both lay claim to the Kashmir region, are nuclear powers with developed arsenals. India has approximately 150 nuclear warheads, and has land-based, sea-based and air-launch nuclear capabilities. The state had declared a No First Use policy, which means they have vowed to never use nuclear weapons first in […]
Fact Sheet: Pakistan’s Nuclear Inventory
Updated September 2022 Pakistan tested its first nuclear weapon in 1998, becoming the world’s 7th state to officially test a nuclear weapon. The exact yields of the weapons in the country’s current arsenal are not known, but general estimates are between 5-12 kilotons (kt) for most weapons, with some longer-range ballistic missiles possibly reaching 40 kt. […]
Added Ambiguity Over India’s No First Use Policy is Cause for Concern
By Abigail Stowe-Thurston, Program Coordinator Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh made comments last week that seem to draw the credibility of India’s nuclear No First Use policy into question. He said, “What happens in the future depends on the circumstances.” The statement comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. In February, Pakistan-based terrorist group […]
Recap: Managing Global Nuclear Threats
By Anna Schumann On July 24, the Center held its annual conference: Managing Global Nuclear Threats, widely attended and streamed online by Congressional staffers, nuclear policy experts and other interested parties. Board member Spencer Boyer began by welcoming the audience and setting the stage for what the upcoming conversations would hold. The first panel, moderated by […]
