For how many days can Pakistan’s army stand against India? Here’s a look at the military strength of both nations
Tensions between India and Pakistan are never far from the surface, and the latest comments from Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, have once again stirred the pot. Speaking about India and the Kashmir issue, he boldly claimed that if India’s massive army of over 1.3 million couldn’t intimidate Pakistan, then a handful of militants certainly won’t change anything either. This strong rhetoric has again heated up the debate over which country holds the upper hand militarily. With both nations heavily armed and nuclear-capable, it raises an important question: in a real war scenario, how long could Pakistan hold its ground against India?
India’s Military Power
According to Global Firepower, a well-known organization that ranks military strength globally, India has around 1.44 million active military personnel, making it the second-largest army in the world.
In comparison, Pakistan’s military is less than half that size. India also has a much larger paramilitary force, with over 2.5 million personnel, compared to just around 500,000 in Pakistan.
India’s firepower includes:
- 4,500 tanks
- 538 fighter aircraft
- A vast inventory of modern weapons and missile systems
India’s military strength score, according to Global Firepower, is 0.1025 (lower is better), while Pakistan’s is 0.1695—showing a significant gap in overall power.
Indian Army’s ground strength
- 1.44 million active troops
- 1.15 million in reserve
- 25 lakh+ paramilitary forces
On the ground, India’s Army is equipped with advanced battle gear like:
- Arjun Main Battle Tanks
- T-90 “Bhim” Tanks
- Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers
- BrahMos Cruise Missiles
- Howitzers and other modern artillery
India’s military isn’t just about numbers—it’s also backed by strong technology, manufacturing, and strategic positioning. In short, while both countries have powerful armies, India’s military is larger, more advanced, and better equipped across all three forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force. If a war were ever to occur, it’s widely believed that Pakistan wouldn’t be able to hold out for long against India’s full-scale military capabilities.
Indi’s Air Force strength
India’s Air Force is one of the most powerful in the world. It includes:
2,229 total aircraft
- 600 fighter jets
- 831 support aircraft
- 899 helicopters
Key fighter jets in the Indian Air Force include:
- Rafale
- Mirage 2000
- MiG-29
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Missile systems that strengthen India’s air power:
- BrahMos (supersonic cruise missile)
- Rudram (anti-radiation missile)
- Astra (air-to-air missile)
- Nirbhay (subsonic cruise missile)
- Akash (surface-to-air defense system)
India’s Naval strength
India’s Navy is strong and constantly growing. It includes:
- 1,42,251 naval personnel
- Around 150 warships
- Nuclear submarines
2 aircraft carriers:
- INS Vikramaditya
- INS Vikrant
These massive carriers can launch fighter jets and helicopters, making them floating airbases.
Pakistan’s military power
According to Global Firepower, Pakistan was ranked the 9th most powerful military last year, but has dropped to 12th place this year with 654,000 active personnel.
The country has 1,434 aircraft in total total that includes:
- 387 fighter jets
- 60 transport aircraft
- 549 trainer aircraft
- 352 helicopters
- 57 attack helicopters
- 4 aerial tankers (for mid-air refueling)
Pakistan’s naval and ground power
On land, Pakistan has:
- 3,742 tanks
- 50,523 armored vehicles
- 752 self-propelled artillery units
- 692 mobile rocket launchers
Pakistan’s Navy includes:
- 114 naval vessels
- 8 submarines
- 9 frigates (warships)
- A number of home-developed and imported missiles
While both India and Pakistan have significant military strength, India has the edge in nearly every area—more troops, better equipment, more advanced jets and missiles, and a larger navy. If tensions rise, India’s multi-layered defense capabilities give it a clear advantage across air, land, and sea.
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