The armies of both countries have exchanged aerial bombardments along the border, escalating to the point of targeting military and civilian airports, amid warnings of a potential intensification of armed confrontation between the two sides, even after a ceasefire agreement.
Following this development, we present a comparison between the two nuclear powers, the armies of India and Pakistan:
Pakistani Army
The Pakistani Army is one of the largest in the region and the world in terms of military capabilities and influence, with a long history in military operations and regional defense since its establishment in 1947.
It possesses an advanced and multi-dimensional military force with both conventional and non-conventional capabilities, including a strong nuclear arsenal.
Size and Manpower:
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- Approximately 650,000 active-duty soldiers.
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- Around 500,000 reserve soldiers.
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- Approximately 282,000 paramilitary personnel.
Tanks and Naval Assets:
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- Approximately 2,630 tanks, including the domestically produced Al-Khalid main battle tank, Ukrainian T-80UD tanks, and Chinese Type 59 and Type 69 tanks.
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- Around 17,500 armored vehicles.
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- 660 self-propelled artillery units.
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- 2,630 field artillery units.
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- 600 multiple rocket launchers.
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- A naval fleet comprising 121 vessels, including 8 submarines, 9 frigates, and 3 minesweepers.
Air Power:
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A total of 1,399 military aircraft, including:
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- 328 fighter jets.
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- 90 attack aircraft.
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- 373 military helicopters, including 57 attack helicopters.
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- Notable aircraft include the domestically produced JF-17 Thunder (in collaboration with China), advanced American F-16 Fighting Falcons, and upgraded French Mirage III jets.
Nuclear Capabilities:
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- Approximately 165 nuclear warheads (as of 2023 estimates), positioning Pakistan among the leading nuclear-armed nations.
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- An estimated annual production capacity of 10–15 additional nuclear warheads.
Indian Army
The Indian Army is one of the largest globally, boasting advanced military capabilities and widespread regional presence, making it a principal force in South Asia. India invests significantly in modernizing its military and diversifying its armament sources to address regional and international challenges.
Size and Manpower:
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- Approximately 1.4 million active-duty soldiers.
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- Around 1.15 million reserve soldiers.
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- A substantial paramilitary force comprising about 2.5 million personnel, including border security forces and the Central Reserve Police Force, making it the second-largest army worldwide in terms of personnel.Power
Tanks and Naval Assets:
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Approximately 4,500 main battle tanks, including:
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- T-90 Bhishma (a Russian tank upgraded domestically).
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- T-72 Ajeya (an older model with upgrades).
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- Arjun (a domestically produced main battle tank).
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- Over 8,000 armored vehicles.
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The Indian Navy is among the world’s largest, featuring:
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- Aircraft carriers such as the Russian-developed INS Vikramaditya and the domestically built INS Vikrant.
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- Approximately 17 attack submarines, including nuclear-powered ones like the Arihant class capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and diesel-electric submarines like the Scorpène class.
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- Around 10 modern destroyers (e.g., the Kolkata class) and over 12 frigates.
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Air Power:
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- Approximately 2,200 aircraft, including over 600 fighter jets, ranking India fourth globally in terms of fleet size.
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Key aircraft include:
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- Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKI, forming the backbone of the air force.
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- Modern French Rafale multirole fighters.
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- Tejas, a domestically produced fighter jet.
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- MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar aircraft
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Nuclear Capabilities:
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- Approximately 160 nuclear warheads (as of 2023 estimates), although India has not officially disclosed the size of its nuclear arsenal.
