A nuclear war between Pakistan and India would have catastrophic consequences for human life. Estimated fatalities could range from 50 to 125 million people in the first week alone, exceeding the death toll of World War II. The war would unleash massive firestorms, injecting 5-47 teragrams of soot into the stratosphere, causing global cooling and widespread crop failures.
*Immediate Consequences:*
- *Direct Deaths*: 27 million people could die directly from the nuclear blasts and firestorms in urban areas.
- *Radiation Exposure*: Survivors would face near-lethal doses of ionizing radiation, leading to long-term health effects.
*Long-term Consequences:*
- *Global Food Shortages*: Reduced crop production and fisheries would lead to mass starvation, potentially killing hundreds of millions more.
- *Climate Disruption*: Temperature drops of 1-3.5°C could last for years, affecting global food production and ecosystems ¹ ².
The devastating impact of such a war would be felt globally, making it a catastrophe with no winners.
