Weeks after suffering losses in Operation Sindoor strikes, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s nuclear sabre-rattling has once again put focus on the military capabilities of the two arch-rivals.
With New Delhi hitting back at Islamabad for the ‘nuclear blackmail,’ the million-dollar question remains – who is the winner in this nuclear showdown?
Information available in the public domain shows that the Shaheen III is Pakistan’s most potent nuclear weapon. On the other hand, India’s Agni V is the most powerful nuclear-capable missile.
While the Indian armed forces used BrahMos and Akash missiles during the Operation Sindoor strikes, it should be noted that the Agni series of missiles are the backbone of India’s nuclear capability.
The Agni series demonstrates India’s formidable position in completing its nuclear triad. In simpler terms, this means India can deliver a nuclear weapon from land-based missiles (read: intercontinental ballistic missiles), submarines capable of firing nuclear warheads from underwater, and strategic bombers capable of launching cruise missiles from the air.
India used the non-nuclear, fire-and-forget BrahMos missile while targeting terror infrastructure and airbases in the heart of Pakistan.
Agni V was developed and test-fired for the first-time off Odisha coast back in 2012. After years of trials and refinement, the first batch of the Agni V missiles were inducted into the Strategic Command Forces in 2019. It’s first flight test was carried out in 2022.
The breakthrough was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Named Mission Divyastra, teh flight test was carried out from Odisha's Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
| Feature | Agni V | Shaheen III |
| Type | Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) | Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) |
| Maximum Range | 5,000–5,500 km | 2,750 km |
| Payload Capacity | 1,500–1,650 kg (nuclear MIRV) | ~1,000 kg (nuclear/conventional) |
| Warhead Types | Nuclear (MIRV), Conventional | Nuclear, Conventional |
| Mobility | Road and rail-mobile, canisterised | Road-mobile, transporter launcher |
| Propulsion | Three-stage, solid-fuel | Two-stage, solid-fuel |
| Accuracy | <10m CEP | Estimated ~50–150m CEP |
| Operational Status | Active, deployed | Active, deployed |
| Strategic Role | Deterrence, second-strike capability | Deterrence, reach all of India |
Pakistan, on the other hand, has billed the Shaheen III as its answer to the Agni V. While the medium-range ballistic missile can cover the entire Indian territory with its target range of 2,750 km, the recent failed test and damages in Balochistan raise concerns about its credibility.
Developed by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC) and the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), the Shaheen-III nuclear delivery system was first test-fired in 2015. While there have been several reports of Pakistan’s commitment to supplying the Shaheen III to Iran and Hamas, the combat readiness of the nuclear missile system remains doubtful.
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