India vs Pakistan: Who Has the Stronger Military?

In 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan have once again drawn global attention—skirmishes across the Line of Control, intelligence chatter of cross-border strikes, and the ever-present shadow of nuclear escalation. But how do these countries really compare on the battlefield today?

The question of “India vs Pakistan military” strength isn’t just about numbers. It’s about capability, technology, readiness—and what could unfold if diplomacy fails. Who holds the edge in manpower? Who dominates the skies? What happens if the war spills into the sea—or worse, goes nuclear? Or If conflict erupts, who’s actually prepared to win?

Defense Budgets (2025)

In the broader conversation around India vs Pakistan military strength, one of the most defining factors is financial firepower. So when we ask “India vs Pakistan military: who has the stronger foundation?” The answer begins with the numbers.

India’s annual defense spending

According to The Economic Times, India’s defense budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 is set at approximately ₹6.81 lakh crore, which translates to around $78.8 billion USD. This figure represents a 9.5% increase from the previous fiscal year’s allocation. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military expenditure in 2024 was estimated at $86.1 billion, making it the fifth-largest military spender globally, following the United States, China, Russia, and Germany.

Read also: Top 10 countries with the highest military spending in 2024-25: Where does India rank?

This steady growth from approximately $66 billion in 2020 and $76.6 billion in 2023 signals a consistent upward trend in India’s military priorities. Roughly a third of this budget is now allocated toward capital acquisitions, including next-generation platforms and weapons such as hypersonic missiles, air defense systems, and fighter jets.

Pakistan’s Defense Budget

Now, what about Pakistan’s?

According to the Jane Defense Budget, for the fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistan’s government allocated approximately PKR 2.13 trillion (about USD 7.64 billion) for defense spending. This marked a 14.5% increase over the revised defense budget of the previous fiscal year, continuing a steady upward trend in military expenditure. To put this in perspective, Pakistan’s defense budget was around PKR 1.75 trillion (roughly USD 6 billion) in 2021, reflecting how increasing regional tensions and internal security concerns have driven incremental budget growth year after year.

Looking ahead, Pakistan has proposed a significant 32% increase for the fiscal year 2025–26, aiming to raise the allocation to PKR 2.8 trillion (approximately USD 9.9 billion). This sharp rise reflects the country’s response to what officials describe as a “war-like situation” with neighboring India, underlining Islamabad’s intent to strengthen defense preparedness and modernize its military capabilities amid ongoing regional uncertainty.

While this figure pales in comparison to India’s, it is still significant when measured against Pakistan’s overall economy. Since 2020, when its military budget was about $10.4 billion, the growth has been modest.

How do they both compare?

One of the most revealing ways to compare India vs Pakistan military strength is to look at what share of their economies each country devotes to defense. In 2025, India’s economy is estimated to be around $3.5 trillion, and it spends about 2.4% of its GDP on defense. While this percentage might seem modest, the sheer size of India’s economy means its defense budget is substantial—allowing it to invest heavily in modernization, infrastructure, and social programs alongside military spending.

In contrast, Pakistan’s economy is much smaller, at roughly $290 billion in 2025, but it dedicates about 3.8% of its GDP to defense. Although Pakistan’s total defense budget is far less than India’s in absolute terms, the larger GDP share means a significant portion of its limited resources are channeled toward military readiness. For example, Pakistan’s higher percentage reflects sustained investment in border security, nuclear deterrence, and military infrastructure, even as the country faces economic challenges such as inflation and external debt.

Manpower and Army Strength

So, after comparing budgets, a natural question follows: How do those billions of dollars translate into boots on the ground and firepower in the field? 

According to the Global Firepower 2025 database, India maintains one of the world’s largest military forces. It has approximately 1.45 million active personnel, supported by an estimated 1.15 million reserve forces, and over 2 million paramilitary members, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) like the CRPF, BSF, and Assam Rifles. These numbers reflect India’s vast territorial responsibilities—ranging from high-altitude operations in the Himalayas to insurgency management in border states.

Pakistan, by contrast, maintains around 654,000 active personnel, with 550,000 reserves and close to 490,000 paramilitary forces, including the well-known Rangers and Frontier Corps. Though smaller in overall size, Pakistan’s military is heavily centralized and tightly integrated with national security planning. Its paramilitary units often play direct roles in border operations and internal security, giving them practical combat exposure.

But manpower is also about deployment and doctrine. India, for example, spreads its forces across multiple fronts: with China in the north, Pakistan in the west, and maritime commitments in the Indian Ocean. Pakistan, meanwhile, is more concentrated, with a heavy focus on its eastern border with India, enabling quicker mobilization in a regional crisis.

What about their Tanks, Armored Vehicles, and Artillery?

India’s armored force is vast and evolving. It fields an estimated 4,750 tanks, including modernized T-90s, Arjun MBTs, and older T-72s. Complementing this is a fleet of over 8,500 armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), designed for troop transport, reconnaissance, and mechanized infantry support. Artillery forms another backbone of Indian ground power, with around 4,040 self-propelled and towed artillery units, bolstered recently by the induction of Dhanush and K9 Vajra guns.

Pakistan, in comparison, fields around 3,800 tanks, including the Al-Khalid and upgraded T-80UDs. It operates nearly 3,000 armored vehicles and approximately 2,300 artillery units, including systems like the M109 howitzer and Chinese-origin SH-15s. While numerically smaller, Pakistan’s armored doctrine is structured around rapid strike formations like the I Strike Corps—emphasizing speed and concentrated armored thrusts in plains warfare.

Air Force Capabilities

After comparing ground forces, the next big question is: what happens when the battle moves to the skies? In any modern military conflict, air dominance can be the deciding factor—and both India and Pakistan have made significant investments in their air forces to prepare for such a possibility.

According to the 2025 Global Firepower Index, India’s air force ranks among the world’s top five, boasting an estimated 2,210 total aircraft, including around 680 fighter jets, 250 transport aircraft, 315 helicopters, and 37 attack helicopters. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is layered, with a combination of legacy platforms and cutting-edge technology designed to serve everything from air defense and deep strike to surveillance and humanitarian missions.

Pakistan’s air force, though smaller, is highly centralized and strategically focused. It fields around 1,434 aircraft, including roughly 410 fighter jets, 60 transport aircraft, and 315 helicopters, of which 55 are dedicated attack helicopters. While not as large as India’s fleet, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has traditionally placed strong emphasis on pilot training and rapid response capabilities, earning respect for its operational discipline and tactical finesse.

Read also: JF-17 Thunder: China-Pakistan’s Multirole Fighter Jet

Their Major Combat Platforms?

India has diversified its fighter fleet across Russian, French, and indigenous platforms. The backbone of the IAF is the Su-30MKI, a heavyweight multirole fighter co-developed with Russia, numbering over 270 units. These are supported by the newly inducted Rafale jets from France—state-of-the-art 4.5 generation aircraft that provide deep strike and air superiority capabilities. India also operates Mirage-2000s, MiG-29s, and the domestically built Tejas LCA, signaling a long-term shift toward indigenous production.

On the Pakistani side, the most widely used platform is the JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed with China. While more cost-effective than India’s Rafales or Su-30s, the JF-17 is continuously being upgraded, with Block III variants featuring AESA radar and beyond-visual-range missiles. Pakistan also retains a fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, acquired from the United States, which remain its most capable aircraft in terms of avionics and multirole flexibility. These fighters form the core of Pakistan’s air deterrence strategy, particularly in contested areas like Kashmir.

Air Defense Systems?

Air superiority is also about what’s on the ground defending the skies. Here, too, both countries have stepped up.

India’s air defense umbrella is growing increasingly sophisticated. The Akash missile system, developed domestically, covers medium-range threats, while the Barak-8—an Indo-Israeli joint venture—provides high-altitude, long-range defense against aircraft, UAVs, and cruise missiles. India has also begun integrating Russian S-400 Triumf systems into its network, dramatically boosting its ability to counter aerial threats across multiple spectrums.

Pakistan relies primarily on Chinese and indigenous systems. Its key platforms include the HQ-9 long-range SAM system and various radar-guided mobile units. Pakistan has also deployed LY-80 (a Chinese variant of HQ-16), and continues to modernize its radar and surveillance capabilities to counter both aerial and missile threats from India.

So what does all of this mean in the broader India vs Pakistan military balance?

India clearly has a quantitative and qualitative edge in terms of total aircraft, advanced platforms, and layered air defense systems. Its integration of French, Russian, Israeli, and domestic systems gives it flexibility and technological depth. However, Pakistan’s air force compensates with streamlined operations, strong doctrine, and platforms optimized for tactical agility, especially along its eastern front.

In an all-out war, India may dominate the air on paper—but in real-time operations, Pakistan’s air force is built to punch above its weight, with quick deployment, terrain advantage in areas like Azad Kashmir, and decades of experience in defensive strategy.

Naval Power

According to the Global Firepower 2025 report, India operates one of the most powerful navies in the Indo-Pacific region, with 295 naval assets, including 2 aircraft carriers, 10 destroyers, 13 frigates, 20 corvettes, 17 submarines, and a growing fleet of patrol vessels and amphibious ships. The Indian Navy is not only vast—it’s also rapidly modernizing, aiming for a true blue-water navy capable of projecting power across the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Pakistan’s naval inventory, in contrast, is much smaller and more defensively oriented. The Pakistan Navy maintains around 114 naval assets, including 0 aircraft carriers, 1 destroyer, 9 frigates, 11 submarines, and a fleet of fast-attack craft, coastal vessels, and mine countermeasure ships. The focus here is clearly on coastal defense, littoral warfare, and securing sea lines near its shores, especially the Arabian Sea.

Big Ships, Big Statements

India’s biggest symbol of naval dominance is the INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022. Alongside the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya, India now operates two active aircraft carriers, making it the only nation in South Asia with such capability. These carriers are central to India’s power projection doctrine and enhance its ability to conduct operations far from home shores—from patrolling the Indian Ocean to responding to crises in Southeast Asia or Africa.

Pakistan, by contrast, lacks an aircraft carrier or any equivalent platform. Its largest surface combatants are frigates, such as the Zulfiquar-class and recently inducted Type 054A/P ships from China. These are capable of anti-ship and anti-air missions but are fundamentally designed for defensive postures, particularly around critical assets like the Gwadar port.

Their Submarine Fleet?

India currently possesses 17 submarines, including one nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (INS Arihant)—a cornerstone of its nuclear triad—and several diesel-electric attack submarines. India’s Scorpène-class submarines, built with French collaboration, add advanced capabilities such as air-independent propulsion and improved sonar evasion.

Pakistan’s submarine fleet, though smaller at 8 active boats, is evolving. It operates Agosta-90B submarines, some of which are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), allowing them to stay submerged for extended periods. Additionally, Pakistan has signed a deal with China to acquire 8 Hangor-class submarines, with deliveries expected to begin by 2028—aiming to bolster its undersea deterrence against India’s numerical superiority.

It seems that the clearest distinction in India vs Pakistan military naval capabilities lies in strategic orientation. India’s vision is that of a blue-water navy—a force that can operate across oceans, secure trade routes, and shape regional geopolitics. It participates in joint exercises like Malabar (with the U.S. and Japan), has naval bases beyond its borders (such as in Mauritius and the Andaman Islands), and plays an active role in Indo-Pacific security.

Pakistan, limited by resources and geography, has adopted a sea-denial strategy focused on coastal defense and asymmetric tactics. Its navy works closely with China and Turkey, and it plays a central role in securing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), especially through the strategic Gwadar port.

Nuclear Arsenal & Missile Systems

If there’s one area where both India and Pakistan’s militaries demand the world’s attention, it’s their nuclear capabilities. As of 2025, according to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India possesses approximately 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan holds slightly more, with around 170–175 warheads. The near-parity in numbers conceals fundamental differences in doctrine, deployment, and technological maturity.

India follows a “No First Use” nuclear doctrine, rooted in deterrence. It sees its nuclear arsenal as a strategic last resort. Pakistan, on the other hand, maintains a first-use policy, aimed at deterring conventional superiority by signaling a lower threshold for nuclear retaliation—particularly in case of a deep incursion by Indian forces.

Read also: CM-400AKG Missile – Pakistan’s Deadly Supersonic Strike Weapon

India also holds a distinct advantage in nuclear triad capabilities—the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea. With nuclear-capable aircraft, land-based missile silos, and the operational INS Arihant (nuclear ballistic missile submarine), India has a full-spectrum deterrent.

Pakistan, while working on submarine-launched capabilities, still lacks a fully operational sea-based deterrent as of 2025. So, in this critical domain of India vs Pakistan military power, India holds the edge in technology, delivery flexibility, and survivability—though both nations remain locked in a delicate balance where escalation is a constant shadow.

Strategic Alliances & International Support: Who Has the Stronger Backing?

Beyond borders and warheads, military strength is also a function of alliances, diplomacy, and global partnerships. In the modern battlefield, no country fights—or prepares—alone.

India has emerged as a pivotal player in the Quad alliance, alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia. This Indo-Pacific framework, designed to counterbalance China’s assertiveness, enhances India’s maritime security, access to cutting-edge technology, and joint military training. The India-US strategic partnership has deepened through arms deals (including Apache helicopters, C-17s, and drones) and interoperability exercises like Yudh Abhyas and Malabar.

Simultaneously, India maintains a robust historical relationship with Russia, its largest arms supplier for decades. Though that relationship has become more transactional and diversified in recent years, platforms like the Su-30MKI fighter jets, S-400 missile defense systems, and T-90 tanks remain cornerstones of India’s arsenal.

Read also: India-Russia Sign Deal for New Pantsir Air Defense System

Pakistan, in contrast, leans heavily on China—its “all-weather friend.” Beijing provides critical military hardware, from JF-17 Thunder fighter jets (co-produced with Pakistan) to frigates, submarines, and increasingly advanced drones. The China-Pakistan defense partnership is also embedded in the CPEC corridor, which carries both economic and security implications.

In addition, Pakistan continues to enjoy varying degrees of support from Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, often in the form of financial aid, defense contracts, and training cooperation. While historical ties with the U.S. have cooled, especially after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan remains a key partner in regional counterterrorism and intelligence frameworks.

So what’s the bottom line?

While India is integrating itself into a global strategic architecture, positioning itself as a counterweight to China and an Indo-Pacific power, Pakistan is consolidating its defense posture through asymmetric alliances—especially with China—and focusing on tactical balance in South Asia. In both cases, these alliances shape procurement decisions, military doctrines, and battlefield readiness, directly influencing how each country prepares for potential conflict in the years ahead.