By: Muhammad Asif Asi, Islamabad
There are two countries on the world map whose mutual hostility is scattered across history like bloodstained pages—India and Pakistan. Their shared past is marred by pain, wars, suspicion, conspiracies, and fear. Every time they move toward confrontation, the world holds its breath. But today, when both nations possess nuclear weapons, one haunting question keeps echoing:
What if the atomic bomb is used?
Will only Lahore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Karachi burn? Or will the world also be engulfed in flames? Will only millions die? Or will billions suffer from starvation, disease, and toxic gases? This is not just a hypothetical question. It is a possible catastrophe—one that could mark the beginning of the end of the human race.
Nuclear Weapons: A Complete System of Destruction
Both Pakistan and India possess approximately 150 to 170 nuclear warheads each. If just 100 of these are used, so much carbon and ash would be released into the atmosphere that sunlight would be blocked from reaching Earth.
Facts and Figures:
Pakistan: Approx. 165 nuclear warheads
India: Approx. 164 nuclear warheads
Missile systems (Ghauri, Shaheen, Agni, Prithvi) with a range of up to 2,000 km
If 100 nuclear bombs are used, approx. 20 million people will die instantly
In just a few hours, 10–15 major cities will be wiped off the map
The First Moment: Immediate Effects of the Nuclear Blast
The temperature at ground zero will rise to millions of degrees Celsius.
Everything within a 5 km radius will vaporize.
Human bodies will turn to ash, leaving only shadows—as seen in Hiroshima.
Deaths will occur due to blood pressure shock, brain trauma, burns, and instant heart attacks.
Survivors will be exposed to deadly radiation.
Toxic Gases, Radiation, and Diseases
After the blast, radiation and toxic gases will spread, affecting generations to come.
Radiation Effects:
Rapid spread of leukemia and other cancers
Birth defects (microcephaly, spinal deformities, blindness)
Skin disorders, hair loss, loss of vision
Mental disorders, psychological trauma, increased suicides
Example – Hiroshima:
140,000 died immediately in 1945
50,000 more died within the next 5 years from radiation
Even today, children are born with disabilities in Hiroshima
Nuclear Winter: A Silent Apocalypse
Post-nuclear war, global temperatures would drop by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. Lack of sunlight would stop crops from growing. This condition is known as “nuclear winter.”
Consequences:
90% of global agricultural land would become useless
Worldwide famine—2 billion people could die from hunger
Death of animals, birds, and plant life
Water scarcity, collapse of glacial systems
Global Impact Beyond Borders
Although the war would be between India and Pakistan, its effects would devastate the entire planet:
Region/Country Effects Estimated Deaths
China Toxic air, border radiation 15 million
Bangladesh Air, water contamination, crop destruction 8 million
Afghanistan Poisoned atmosphere 5 million
Middle East Famine, refugee crisis due to nuclear winter 20 million
Europe & America Climate change, economic collapse 50 million
Africa Rain disruption, food crisis 70 million
Global Total Famine, disease, radiation 2–3 billion
The Survivors?
Those who survive will envy the dead.
No doctors, no medicine
No food or clean water
Paralyzed, blind, or burned survivors in unbearable agony
Streets full of corpses, hospitals turned to ruins
Crying children with dead mothers
Scientific and Research Reports
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: A nuclear war could kill 2 billion people in one year.
Princeton University Simulation: 90 million dead in the first 72 hours.
IPPNW Report: Even a “limited nuclear war” can impact the entire planet.
Moral and Religious Perspective
All major religions—Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism—preach peace, love, and humanity. Nuclear war is a crime against all of them.
Qur’an: “Whoever kills one innocent person, it is as if he has killed all of humanity.”
Jesus Christ: “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other also.”
Buddha: “Hatred is never ended by hatred, but by love alone.”
Conclusion: Do We Really Want to Live?
Writing this column shook me to the core. If, God forbid, a deranged leader, an impulsive general, or an arrogant politician presses the “red button” tomorrow, we will all be dead. Our existence, our dreams, our children, our mothers—gone.
The atomic bomb is not a symbol of power. It is a trigger for collective suicide.
Do we truly want to see our cities burn, our generations crippled, and our land rendered barren? Or do we want to walk toward peace?
Remember:
The final result of any war is always the grave.
