The recent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) policy document (2026) clearly indicates that India has been deploying 12 nuclear warheads on the sea leg of its nuclear triad. This, in addition to its increasing conventional and nuclear forces, makes India one of the fastest-growing nuclear-weapon states in the world. India is creating both conventional and nuclear force asymmetry against Pakistan in South Asia.

With its increasing conventional and nuclear forces, India may deploy more nuclear forces and mobilise its conventional forces closer to the Pakistani border, thereby threatening nuclear-armed Pakistan. India has already been canisterising and encapsulating its nuclear forces, making them a "ready arsenal" that can be used within minutes.

This is no longer a non-weaponised posturing, as many may perceive, thereby increasing the risk of rapid escalation to a dangerous level during a serious crisis between the South Asian nuclear rivals. The question is: why has India been increasing and modernising its nuclear weapons and conventional forces, bolstered by its deployed nuclear warheads targeting Pakistan and others in the international system?

First, India has long aspired to be a regional hegemon in the broader Asian region, calling the Indian Ocean "India's Ocean" and replacing its "Look East" maritime strategy with the "Act East" policy. This means that India will be looking for more nuclear-powered submarines, advanced maritime capabilities, overseas military bases, and economic investment across the region to protect its vital maritime security interests while keeping an eye on the crucial Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Once India acquires all these capabilities, it will have greater maritime influence over others, undermining the security of other states, including some of the leading powers, such as the United States, which has maintained military preponderance for decades.

Second, India desires to retain escalation dominance over its rivals. In doing so, it has been increasing and modernising its deterrent forces beyond its security needs. To retain such dominance, India has........

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