India-Pakistan tensions: Where has Pakistan hidden its nuclear weapons, missiles? Report suggests enemy’s nuclear arsenal isn’t far from
India-Pakistan tensions: India-Pakistan tensions have reached a breaking point since Operation Sindoor, raising the possibility of a a full-scale India-Pakistan war, which could quickly escalate into a nuclear conflict, with Pakistani leaders, experts and politicians openly threatening to use the nuclear option against India if the conflict escalates to that point.
However, amidst the nuclear saber rattling by Pakistan, the key question on everyone’s mind is where Islamabad has hidden away its nuclear arsenal, and whether Indian armed forces could neutralize the enemy nation’s nuclear capabilities before it gets a chance to use them. Let us find out more.
Where are Pakistan’s nuclear weapons hidden?
According to various reports, a good portion of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are stored at the Sargodha Weapons Storage Complex, which is guarded F-16 fighter jets stationed at the Sargodha Air Base and the Shahbaz Air Base in Jacobabad, both key bases of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
As per the Pakistan Nuclear Handbook Report 2023, satellite imagery of Pakistan Army’s cantonment, airbase also provide clues to where the nuclear arsenal is stashed.
Additionally, Pakistan has uranium enrichment plants in Kahuta, Wah, Chashma and Khushab, Nilor, Fateh Jang, and Garhwal, which could be potential targets for India.
Pakistan’s nuclear plants, missile factories
Pakistan has four heavy-water plutonium enrichment reactor at the Khushab nuclear plant in Punjab province, while a secret nuclear plant is located in Fateh Jang in the hills of Kala Chitta Dar near Islamabad, where Pakistan manufacturers missiles and launchers capable of carrying nuclear warheads, as well as critical systems needed for long-range missiles.
In 2023, satellite images of Fateh Jang revealed structures for Pakistan’s Nasr, Shaheen and Babar missiles, all capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Pakistan’s missile launcher systems are made in Tarnawa and Taxila, while an ordnance factory is located in Wah area, northwest of Islamabad.
Which Pakistani missiles can carry nuclear warheads?
Pakistan has several semi-long range and short-range ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, such as Shaheen-I/A (Hatf-4), Nasr (Hatf-9), Abdali (Hatf-2), Ghaznavi (Hatf-3), Ghauri (Hatf-5) and Shaheen-2 (Hatf-6) missiles. Pakistan is also actively working on developing Shaheen-3 and Abdali missiles with China’s help. Both these missiles are nuclear capable.
India Vs Pakistan- Who has more nuclear weapons?
As per a recent report, India now has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, which could result in major change in the strategic balance in South Asia, as per a recent report.
According to the latest report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), India has surpassed Pakistan in terms of the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country. The report, citing data revealed by Status of World Nuclear Forces report, said that India currently has around 180 nuclear weapons, compared to an estimated 170 nukes possessed by Pakistan.
This is the first time in nearly two decades that India has surpassed Pakistan in the nuclear arms race, the report said.
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