01-05-2025
In numbers: India and Pakistan's unequal militaries
India is considering bigger military action; Pakistan wants to retaliate. As tensions rise after the deadly terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, here's how the two nations compare new: The terror attack in Pahalgam has renewed hostilities between India and Pakistan, drawing attention to their military and nuclear it matters: Both countries are nuclear powers, and even a limited conflict carries a serious risk to regional and global stability. Tensions have mounted between the countries after terrorists in Kashmir's Pahalgam killed 26 civilians on April 22. India said that Pakistan backed those behind the attack, but Pakistan denied
In numbers:Troop strength: India is around 1.5 million strong; Pakistan, around 6,60,000Defence budgets (2024): India's was $86 billion, and Pakistan's was around $10 billionNuclear warheads: India has 180 and Pakistan has 170Military equipment: India has 480 aircraft while Pakistan has 300. In terms of naval vessels, India has 210 and Pakistan has 44In-depth: Insurgency in Kashmir started in 1989, and India and Pakistan have fought several wars, mostly over Kashmir. The fourth Indo-Pakistani war took place in 1999 in the Kargil district of Ladakh. India also launched retaliatory military strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in 2016 and 2019. This time, India wants a stronger response to the latest attack, the deadliest in Kashmir since has the edge in firepower — more troops, aircraft, ships, and far greater defence spending. Meanwhile, Pakistan also has to focus on its western border with Afghanistan, dealing with cross-border militancy is building new "theatre commands" to improve military coordination more effectively. According to the Military Balance 2025 report, "In May 2024, the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act was unveiled, amid a move to establish theatre commands, designed to improve integration."India is increasing its nuclear capabilities. In 2024, it tested its Agni-V ICBM with MIRVs. The country uses many Soviet and Russian-made systems and collaborates with Russia on missile development. Recently, it imported foreign equipment, mainly from the US and France. In 2023, India and the US signed a defence and technology cooperation agreement to boost security ties. Recruitment of term-limited personnel continues under the Agnipath military has long been focused on countering India and Afghanistan. Recruitment is high, but the armed forces face internal issues like political interference and financial strain. A 2003 ceasefire, reaffirmed in 2021, has lowered cross-border conflict in Kashmir. But after the Pahalgam massacre, it's rising a struggling economy, Pakistan invests in nuclear and missile programmes. This includes the Ababeel ballistic missile, which can carry multiple warheads. The Military Balance 2025 report states that China is Pakistan's largest defence partner, with many forces using Chinese military equipment. However, tensions with both India and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan still impact and test its border security international environment has changed since 2019. So, this time, India's response could be harsher. Both sides have downplayed the risk of a full-scale war. Both are still building out their nuclear arsenals. India maintains a "no first use" policy, while Pakistan doesn' they said: 'The horrendous terror attack in Pahalgam has angered people in India and across the world. India is united in uprooting the menace of terrorism,' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on April 27.'We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So, in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken,' Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif InTrending Reel
