India-Pakistan Military Balance: A Comparative Overview
A recent analysis from the International Institute for Strategic Studies titled “The Military Balance” reveals a significant disparity in military capabilities between India and Pakistan, particularly in conventional warfare.
India’s defense budget outstrips Pakistan’s by more than nine times, underscoring its substantial investment in military resources. With approximately 1.5 million active-duty personnel, India boasts a formidable ground force of 1.2 million soldiers equipped with 3,750 main battle tanks and over 10,000 artillery pieces. In contrast, Pakistan’s army consists of around 660,000 troops, with a tank force two-thirds the size of India’s and less than half the artillery.
Naval capabilities further highlight India’s superiority, featuring two aircraft carriers, a dozen guided-missile destroyers, and 16 attack submarines, whereas Pakistan’s fleet lacks carriers and destroyers, relying on smaller frigates and fewer submarines.
Air power is another comparative battlefield where India maintains an edge. Both nations primarily employ older Soviet-era jets, but India has begun integrating advanced French-made Rafale fighters into its arsenal, with 36 currently operational. Meanwhile, Pakistan has expanded its fleet with Chinese J-10 jets and continues to utilize its US-made F-16s alongside the joint Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 fighter, which numbers roughly 150.
Nuclear capabilities remain a point of parity, with both countries fielding approximately five dozen surface-to-surface launchers. However, India possesses longer-range ballistic missiles than its neighbor.
As regional dynamics continue to evolve, understanding these military disparities remains crucial for assessing the geopolitical landscape in South Asia.
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