With tensions escalating between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, both Pakistan and India are preparing for war.
Having already fought multiple wars over the disputed region of Kashmir, another war might be on the cards considering the war-mongering attitude of the Indian government.
Let’s compare the military arsenal of the South Asian rivals.
| Pakistan | India | |
| Military Budget | $11 billion – 3.6% of GDP | $58 billion – 2.1% of GDP |
| Foreign Military Assistance | $100 million | – |
| Active Military Troops | 653,800 | 1.4 million |
| Nuclear Warheads | 140-150 | 130-140 |
| Maximum Missile Range | Shaheen 2 – 2,000 km | Agni 3 – 3,000 to 5,000 km |
| Army | Troops: 560,000 | Troops: 1.2 million |
| Battle Tanks: 2,496 | Battle Tanks: 3,565 | |
| Armored Personnel Carriers: 1,605 | Armored Personnel Carriers: 336 | |
| Artillery Guns: 4,472 | Artillery Guns: 9,719 | |
| Air Force | Personnel: 65,000 | Personnel: 127,200 |
| Combat Aircraft: 425 | Combat Aircraft: 814 | |
| Early Warning and Control Aircraft: 7 | Early Warning and Control Aircraft: 4 | |
Navy | Personnel: 26,000 | Personnel: 67,700 |
| Aircraft Carrier: 0 | Aircraft Carrier: 1 | |
| Submarines: 8 | Submarines: 16 | |
| Destroyers: No Data Available | Destroyers: 14 | |
| Frigates: 9 | Frigates: 13 | |
| Patrol and Coastal Combatant Vessels: 17 | Patrol and Coastal Combatant Vessels: 106 | |
| Combat-capable Aircraft: 8 | Combat-capable Aircraft: 75 |
While Pakistan’s military assets may be less than India, history has proved otherwise. Looking at India’s population of more than 1.3 billion, the military arsenal is justified. Pakistan, on the other hand, allocates a major chunk of its budget for defense purposes.
Sources: Al-Jazeera, Wikipedia.