Maps show the horrific devastation that would be wrought by nuclear weapons in India and Pakistan as tensions flare between the two nations. In the latest major development, India claims to have launched fresh strikes on radar and air defence systems inside Pakistan
It came after Pakistan’s information minister claimed that its soldiers have killed 40-50 Indian soldiers by destroying military installations on the border in Kashmir. “We have blown their [Indian] military installations on the de facto border,” Attuallah Tarar said. Speaking on The World, Tarar labelled India as the “aggressor” and vowed to respond to Indian attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian military launched the attacks as part of “Operation Sindoor” as part of a plan to hold those responsible for a terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22.
If true, the deaths of as many as 50 Indian soldiers would represent a significant escalation in the latest conflict between the two nuclear armed powers.
The prospect of a major war between the countries, which have large nuclear stockpiles, is a source of great anxiety to the world at large given that both are thought to have at least 170 of the apocalyptic weapons each.
One think tank suggests Pakistan has 170 warheads while India has 172, while analyses indicate Pakistan could have more, around 200.
NUKEMAP, a blog created by historian of science and nuclear weapons and a professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology Alex Wellerstein, provides a graphic illustration of just how devastating various types of nuclear devices can be.
The map tool he created visualises the effects of nuclear detonations, with estimates of the deaths and casualties that would result if such weapons were used around the world.
It estimates that the largest bomb Pakistan is thought to have tested (a 45 kiloton warhead) will would kill a sickening 367,900 people in an airburst attack and injure 1,285,180 if the Indian capital New Delhi was targeted.
Meanwhile, the largest India has trialled could wipe out 110,700 and injure 414,390 if the same type of detonation were used in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, according to the tool.
Back in 2019, a study by academics with expertise in nuclear weapons and the environment set out an imagined worst-case scenario in which a terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament led to its military crossing the border into Pakistan with tanks as well as de facto border, which is known as the Line of Control.
In their wargaming of a potential nuclear conflict, Pakistan chooses to carry out tactical nuke strikes on its own territory in response, with the strikes triggering an exchange of attacks on strategic targets, and then wide-ranging detonations against each other, including on major cities.
Thankfully, such scenarios are vanishingly unlikely as both sides are aware that resorting to a nuclear attack would have catastrophic consequences.
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation previously said even a small nuclear exchange between the two countries “could kill 20 million people in a week”.
“If a nuclear winter is triggered, nearly 2 billion people in the developing world would be at risk from death by starvation,” it adds.
Pakistan’s policy is to use tactical nukes to counter nuclear threats and conventional military attacks from India. NUKEMAP doesn’t calculate the impact of these weapons, which have a much smaller yield.
Meanwhile, India has a “no first use” policy, meaning it will only retaliate with nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack on Indian forces or territories, as per ITV News.
Most experts believe both nations will look to deescalate the conflict as they have before, The Sun reports.
Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British Army commander told the outlet: “I think this is something that will blow over relatively quickly, because I think both nations recognise the implications of what’s going on, but that doesn’t mean that the tension is going to simmer down.
“We might see more skirmishes in coming days and weeks,” he added.
There have been tensions between the two countries for decades with three previous wars breaking out.
The EU has urged India and Pakistan to show restraint and avoid further escalation in order to protect civilian lives.
In a statement, the bloc condemned last month’s deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir and insisted those responsible must be brought to justice.
Brussels said it was deeply concerned by rising tensions in the region and warned of the risk of further casualties.
It also called on both countries to uphold international law and engage in dialogue to prevent further conflict.