Despite grappling with economic instability, a recent research report published by the Federation of American Scientists suggested that Pakistan appeared to be enhancing it's nuclear arsenal. The development comes when the country has repeatedly attempted to secure financial aid from China and Gulf nations and finally agreed to stringent International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions for a bailout. At this moment, Pakistan is striving with a long list of pressing economic issues and challenges including widespread protests against skyrocketing fuel prices and exorbitant power bills.
According to the research report, "Pakistan continues to gradually expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile material production industry."
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What substantiates the report's claim is the commercial satellite imagery analysis of construction activities observed at Pakistani army garrisons and air force bases which revealed the presence of what appear to be new launchers and facilities potentially linked to Pakistan's nuclear forces.
Going by the estimation mentioned in the report, Pakistan currently possesses approximately 170 warheads in its nuclear weapons stockpile.
Here's a brief account of Pakistan's nuclear repertoire
As per the report, Pakistan is currently producing fissile material enough to manufacture 14 to 27 new warheads annually.
Pakistan's Mirage III and Mirage V fighter squadrons are the most likely to facilitate the nuclear delivery roles which are stationed at two bases, with Masroor Air Base near Karachi possibly serving as a nuclear weapons storage site.
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Pakistan possesses six operational nuclear-capable, solid-fuel, road-mobile ballistic missile systems, including the Abdali, Ghaznavi, Shaheen-I/A, Nasr, Ghauri, and Shaheen-II. Two additional nuclear-capable missile systems, Shaheen-III and MIRVed Ababeel, are under development.
The report identifies at least five missile bases that could play a role in Pakistan's nuclear forces.
