Pakistan’s nuclear weapons spending rises 18% in 2025

Islamabad: Pakistan increased its spending on nuclear weapons by 18 percent in 2025, reaching an estimated $1.5 billion, according to a new report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The report highlights a global surge in nuclear arms expenditure, with the nine nuclear-armed countries collectively spending $471 billion over the past five years. In the same period, India spent an estimated $2.8 billion, reflecting the ongoing strategic competition in South Asia. Pakistan’s increase was among the highest worldwide, second only to the United States. Analysts note that modernization of nuclear arsenals is being driven by growing geopolitical tensions and a global focus on strategic defense capabilities.