India and Pakistan, two neighboring countries with a shared history and enduring rivalry, have built formidable armed forces since their independence in 1947. Tensions over the Kashmir region and other geopolitical factors have led both nations to maintain strong military postures. While both countries have experienced several conflicts, the Indian Army and Pakistan Army have developed differently in terms of size, capability, technology, and global standing.
In this article, we provide a detailed comparison of how strong Pakistan’s army is compared to India’s, analyzing factors such as troop strength, military budget, weaponry, training, global partnerships, and strategic capabilities.
1. Overview of Military Forces
India’s Armed Forces:
India has the second-largest military in the world by personnel and the third-highest defense budget (as of 2024). It maintains a tri-service defense structure: the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, with the Army being the largest component.
- Active military personnel: ~1.45 million
- Reserve personnel: ~1.15 million
- Defense Budget (2024-25): ~$82 billion
- Global Ranking (Global Firepower Index 2024): Ranked 4th
Pakistan’s Armed Forces:
Pakistan also has a powerful military, considered one of the strongest in the Islamic world. The Pakistan Army plays a prominent role not just in defense but also in politics and national governance.
- Active military personnel: ~654,000
- Reserve personnel: ~550,000
- Defense Budget (2024-25): ~$10 billion
- Global Ranking (Global Firepower Index 2024): Ranked 9th
👉 Verdict: India maintains a significant advantage in size and budget.
2. Strength of Ground Forces
Indian Army:
- Personnel: ~1.2 million active soldiers
- Tanks: ~4,700 (T-90S, Arjun, T-72)
- Artillery: ~10,000+ units (including self-propelled, towed, and rocket systems)
- Missile Systems: Agni, Prithvi, BrahMos
- Modernization: Undergoing major upgrades through projects like F-INSAS and Make in India defense production.
Pakistan Army:
- Personnel: ~560,000 active soldiers
- Tanks: ~2,400 (Al-Khalid, T-80UD, Type 85)
- Artillery: ~5,000+ units
- Missile Systems: Hatf, Shaheen, Nasr (tactical nukes)
- Modernization: Focus on Chinese collaboration and development of tactical nuclear weapons.
👉 Verdict: India has greater numerical strength, more modern tanks, and long-range missile capabilities, while Pakistan relies heavily on tactical systems and Chinese support.
3. Air Power Comparison
Indian Air Force (IAF):
- Aircraft: ~2,000 total, ~570 combat aircraft
- Fighter Jets: Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Rafale, MiG-29, Tejas
- Transport and Helicopters: C-17, C-130J, Chinook, Apache AH-64
- Air Defense: S-400 systems, Akash, Israeli Barak-8
- Space and Cyber Warfare: Growing capabilities with ASAT weapons and satellite integration
Pakistan Air Force (PAF):
- Aircraft: ~1,400 total, ~350 combat aircraft
- Fighter Jets: F-16s, JF-17 (developed with China), Mirage III/V
- Transport and Helicopters: IL-76, CASA C-130, Mi-17
- Air Defense: HQ-9 systems (from China), LY-80
- Dependence: Heavily reliant on China and U.S. aid for tech upgrades
👉 Verdict: The IAF is superior in fleet size, diversity, air defense systems, and strike capability, while the PAF is agile but lacks depth in high-end technology.
4. Naval Capabilities
Indian Navy:
- Personnel: ~67,000
- Aircraft Carriers: 2 operational (INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant)
- Submarines: 17 (including nuclear-powered INS Arihant)
- Destroyers/Frigates: 30+ advanced warships
- Maritime Patrol: P-8I Poseidon, Sea King helicopters
- Blue-Water Navy: Strategic presence in Indian Ocean
Pakistan Navy:
- Personnel: ~25,000
- Aircraft Carriers: 0
- Submarines: 9 (including Agosta-class with air-independent propulsion)
- Frigates/Corvettes: ~11
- Naval Aviation: Sea King helicopters, ATR-72
- Regional Focus: Arabian Sea dominance
👉 Verdict: India has a significant naval edge and a true blue-water navy, while Pakistan focuses on coastal defense and submarines.
5. Nuclear Capabilities
Both nations are nuclear-armed, with differing doctrines and deployment strategies.
India:
- Nuclear Warheads: ~160
- Delivery Systems: Agni series (land), fighter jets, INS Arihant (SLBM)
- Doctrine: No First Use (NFU)
- Second Strike Capability: Confirmed, with sea-based deterrence
Pakistan:
- Nuclear Warheads: ~165
- Delivery Systems: Shaheen, Babur, Nasr, F-16s
- Doctrine: First Use, especially in case of conventional imbalance
- Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Nasr missile (60–70 km range)
👉 Verdict: India has a more stable and strategic doctrine with second-strike ability; Pakistan emphasizes battlefield nukes for deterrence.
6. International Alliances and Training
India:
- Defense Partnerships: USA, Russia, France, Israel, Japan
- Military Exercises: Malabar (with US, Japan, Australia), Yudh Abhyas, INDRA
- UN Peacekeeping: One of the largest contributors
- Defense Exports: Rapidly growing under Make in India
Pakistan:
- Defense Partnerships: China, Turkey, occasionally USA
- Military Exercises: CPEC-protection drills, joint exercises with China, Russia
- UN Peacekeeping: Active participant
- Defense Imports: Primarily from China
👉 Verdict: India enjoys stronger global ties, diversified alliances, and joint training operations with global powers.
7. Technological Edge and R&D
India:
- Domestic Defense Industry: DRDO, HAL, Bharat Electronics, ISRO support
- Projects: Tejas fighter jet, BrahMos, Agni series, UAVs, AI-driven warfare
- Cyber & Space Warfare: Strong investments, successful ASAT test in 2019
Pakistan:
- Domestic Production: HIT (for tanks), PAC Kamra (for aircraft)
- Tech Collaborations: Mainly with China
- Cyber/AI: Limited development compared to India
👉 Verdict: India has superior indigenous R&D and advanced capability in modern warfare tech.
8. Recent Conflicts and Operational Readiness
India:
- Surgical Strikes (2016): Response to Uri attack
- Balakot Airstrike (2019): Targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan
- Border Tensions with China (2020-present): High-altitude combat readiness tested and proven
Pakistan:
- Response to Balakot (2019): Claimed retaliation via Operation Swift Retort
- Internal Security Focus: Managing insurgency and terrorism in tribal areas and Balochistan
👉 Verdict: India has demonstrated strategic strike capabilities and high-altitude warfare skills. Pakistan remains largely reactive.
Conclusion: Who Has the Stronger Army?
When comparing Pakistan’s Army to India’s, it is clear that India holds the advantage in virtually every major area:
- Size and Budget: India’s forces are significantly larger and better funded.
- Technology and Equipment: India has more advanced tanks, aircraft, and missile systems.
- Global Partnerships: India has wider alliances and greater global influence.
- Naval Strength: India dominates in maritime power.
- R&D and Indigenous Capability: India leads in innovation and self-reliance.
Final Verdict:
India has a more comprehensive, modern, and strategically superior military compared to Pakistan. While Pakistan maintains a strong defense force and credible deterrence, particularly with tactical nuclear weapons, it is strategically and technologically outmatched by India.