To win a nuclear engagement (which is close to impossible because of the assured retaliation), annihilation of population centers is not required. And by
"counter", I did not mean making secondary moves or weakness.
The counter-force strikes can very well be first strikes, aimed at decapitation of the enemy of its nuclear and conventional might. Targets could be air bases, missile bases, naval bases, hardened storage facilities and any other installations, which form an integral part of the enemy's nuclear strike/retaliation capability and conventional superiority.
The five major nuclear powers have had the luxury of excessive defence expenditure, and since one side had developed the megaton-range nuclear weapons, all the other parties focused on the same. As a result, annihilating the opponent's population became a major component of strategic deterrence (although the first strikes are still aimed at taking out the adversary's nuclear weapons and command and control centers).
Speaking in terms of nuclear weapons, Pakistan and India are still evolving. Just like both countries do not maintain any nuclear weapons on a ready-to-launch status (unlike the 5 major nuclear powers), it would not be advisable for them to develop megaton-range nuclear weapons, given that both countries are relatively small and have very dense population centers. Therefore, even ~50kt nukes would kill very high amount of people. Mere area of destruction is not the only parameter.
We do have local estimates claiming the highest yield of 1998 explosions to be ~35kt.
As I mentioned, just the area of destruction is not the only parameter which determines the number of people killed. Both Pakistani and Indian urban centers are extremely dense.
By all means.