India’s Armed Forces Outmatch Pakistan Across Land, Air, Sea

In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, attention has shifted toward the military capabilities of India and Pakistan. As discussions continue about the possibility of Indian military action to eliminate the perpetrators and their bases, the recently released Global Firepower Index 2025 provides a clear comparison of the two nations' military strengths.

According to the Global Firepower Index 2025, India ranks fourth in global military power, while Pakistan stands at the twelfth position. The data highlights significant disparities in manpower, air force, land forces, and naval strength between the two countries.

India has a Power Index Score of 0.1184, whereas Pakistan’s score is 0.2513. A lower score indicates greater military capability.

Manpower

India maintains a clear lead in terms of military personnel. With a population of approximately 1.4 billion, India has 1,455,550 active-duty military personnel, 1,155,000 reserve personnel, and 2,527,000 paramilitary forces. In contrast, Pakistan, with a population of around 250 million, has 654,000 active-duty military personnel, 550,000 reserves, and 500,000 paramilitary personnel, according to the report.

Air Force Capabilities

India also leads significantly in aerial strength. The country possesses a total of 2,229 aircraft compared to Pakistan’s 1,399. India operates 513 fighter jets, ahead of Pakistan’s 328. Additionally, India has 80 attack helicopters, while Pakistan operates 57.

Land Forces

In terms of ground strength, India fields 4,201 battle tanks, while Pakistan has 2,627. India also outpaces Pakistan in the number of armoured vehicles, with 148,594 compared to Pakistan’s 17,516. However, Pakistan holds an edge in mobile rocket launch systems, possessing 600 compared to India’s 264.

Naval Power

India maintains superior naval capabilities as well. It has 293 naval assets, whereas Pakistan has 121. Notably, India operates two aircraft carriers, while Pakistan has none. India also leads in submarines, with 18 compared to Pakistan’s 8. Furthermore, India possesses 13 destroyers, a category absent in Pakistan’s fleet.

Defence Budget

There is a significant gap in defence expenditure between the two countries. India’s annual defence budget is approximately USD 75 billion, while Pakistan allocates around USD 7.64 billion. This disparity indicates a considerable difference in resource availability for military expansion and modernization.