Pakistan and India escalate missile and nuclear competition

Pakistan has warned it may reconsider its nuclear deployment options in response to India’s expanding military and nuclear capabilities. Retired Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, an adviser to Pakistan’s National Command Authority, stated that Islamabad will not accept a strategic imbalance in South Asia. He specifically cited reports of India deploying nuclear warheads aboard submarines and advancing missile technologies as threats to regional stability.

Both nations are accelerating their missile programs through different technological paths. India is expanding its arsenal with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Pralay tactical ballistic missile, and the development of the BrahMos-2 hypersonic missile, which is expected to exceed Mach 6.

Pakistan has focused on the Fatah missile family, recently testing an extended-range version of the Fatah-II. This upgraded system incorporates advanced navigation and improved maneuverability. Pakistan has also strengthened its conventional posture by establishing a dedicated Army Rocket Force to enhance its precision-strike capabilities.