What Do You Know About the Military Capabilities of the Pakistani and Indian Armies?

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:

• • Approximately 650,000 active-duty soldiers.

• • Around 500,000 reserve soldiers.

• • Approximately 282,000 paramilitary personnel.

Tanks and Naval Assets:

• • 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.

• • Around 17,500 armored vehicles.

• • 660 self-propelled artillery units.

• • 2,630 field artillery units.

• • 600 multiple rocket launchers.

• • A naval fleet comprising 121 vessels, including 8 submarines, 9 frigates, and 3 minesweepers.

Air Power:

• • A total of 1,399 military aircraft, including:

     

    • • 328 fighter jets.
    • • 90 attack aircraft.
    • • 373 military helicopters, including 57 attack helicopters.

• • 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:

• • Approximately 165 nuclear warheads (as of 2023 estimates), positioning Pakistan among the leading nuclear-armed nations.

• • 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:

• • Approximately 1.4 million active-duty soldiers.

• • Around 1.15 million reserve soldiers.

• • 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:

• • Approximately 4,500 main battle tanks, including:

     

    • • T-90 Bhishma (a Russian tank upgraded domestically).
    • • T-72 Ajeya (an older model with upgrades).
    • • Arjun (a domestically produced main battle tank).

• • Over 8,000 armored vehicles.

• • The Indian Navy is among the world’s largest, featuring:

     

    • • Aircraft carriers such as the Russian-developed INS Vikramaditya and the domestically built INS Vikrant.
    • • 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.
    • • Around 10 modern destroyers (e.g., the Kolkata class) and over 12 frigates.

Air Power:

• • Approximately 2,200 aircraft, including over 600 fighter jets, ranking India fourth globally in terms of fleet size.

• • Key aircraft include:

     

    • • Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKI, forming the backbone of the air force.
    • • Modern French Rafale multirole fighters.
    • • Tejas, a domestically produced fighter jet.
    • • MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar aircraft

Nuclear Capabilities:

• • Approximately 160 nuclear warheads (as of 2023 estimates), although India has not officially disclosed the size of its nuclear arsenal.