Pakistan has more nukes than India: US experts confirm

Posted on 21 March 2010. Tags: Indian nukes, Pakistani Nukes

The source of this information are Mr. Norris and Mr. Kristensen.

http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/xm38g50653435657/?p=ddf52842837645c2aa6a20690e04960c?=9

Estimated Globa l Nuclear Weapons Inventories , 2009

Russia 13,000*
United States 9,400**
France 300
China 240
Britain 180
Israel 80–100
Pakistan 70–90
India 60–80
North Korea ?
Tota l ~23,360

* Approximately 4,850 of the Russian warheads are operational or active. The status of the other 8,150 warheads is unclear. Some portion may be in reserve with the balance retired and awaiting dismantlement.

** Approximately 5,200 of the U.S. warheads are in the military stockpile (about 2,700 deployed); 4,200 retired warheads are awaiting dismantlement.

WASHINGTON: Pakistan is estimated to have more nuclear warheads than India and the two Asian neighbours along with China are increasing their arsenals and deploying weapons at more sites, two eminent American atomic experts have claimed.

While Pakistan is estimated to possess 70-90 nuclear weapons, India is believed to have 60-80, claims Robert S Norris and Hans M Kristensen in their latest article ‘Nuclear Notebook: Worldwide deployments of nuclear weapons, 2009′.

The article published in the latest issue of ‘Bulletin of the Atomic Science’ claimed that Beijing, Islamabad and New Delhi are quantitatively and qualitatively increasing their arsenals and deploying weapons at more sites, yet the locations are difficult to pinpoint.

For example, no reliable public information exists on where Pakistan or India produces its nuclear weapons, it said.

“Whereas many of the Chinese bases are known, this is not the case in Pakistan and India, where we have found no credible information that identifies permanent nuclear weapons storage locations,” they said.

“Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are not believed to be fully operational under normal circumstances, India is thought to store its nuclear warheads and bombs in central storage locations rather than on bases with operational forces. But, since all three countries are expanding their arsenals, new bases and storage sites probably are under construction,” the two nuclear experts said. Pakistan has more nuclear weapons than India, claim US experts, PTI, Nov 18, 2009, 01.11pm IST

India

Chandighar Plant Punjab Various Possible warhead production.

Jodhpur Storage Facility Rajasthan Prithvi/Agni SSMs Potential underground storage facility for Prithvi and/or Agni missile launchers.

Unknown air force facility Unknown Bombs For possible use by Jaguar IS at Gorakhpur and

Lohegaon Air Bases and Mirage 2000H at Ambala and Gwalior Air Bases.

Unknown army facility12 Unknown Prithvi/Agni SSMs For use by 222nd and 333rd Missile Groups (Prithvi), and 334th and 335th Missile Groups (Agni).

Unknown navy facility Unknown Dhanush SSMs For Dhanush ship-launched SSMs.13

SUBTOTAL 5

Pa kistan

Fatehjang National Defense Complex

Punjab SSMs Missile development and potential warhead storage capability.

Masroor Weapons Depot Sindh Various Possible storage of bombs for Mirage Vs at Masroor Air Base and/or warheads for SSMs.