India also has a significant advantage in defence spending.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated, sparking fears of the first full-scale war between the two nuclear powers in decades.
The flare-up follows a series of targeted cross-border strikes.
Both nations blame each other for the attacks, which once again centre on Kashmir.
Indian-administered Kashmir is already one of the most militarised regions on Earth. Hundreds of thousands of troops and paramilitary forces are stationed there, even in times of relative peace.
Now, experts warn that a full-blown conflict could involve up to 2 million armed personnel – one of the largest military confrontations since World War Two.
India holds a military edge in scale and spending
According to the 2024 Global Firepower rankings, India has the world’s fourth strongest military. Pakistan ranks 12th.
India’s active-duty forces exceed 1.47 million. These include 1,237,000 in the army, 149,900 in the air force, 75,500 in the navy, and 13,350 in the coast guard.
Pakistan’s total is under 700,000, with 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force, and 30,000 in the navy.
India also has a significant advantage in defence spending.
It spent around $86 billion in 2024, making it the second-highest spender in Asia after China and sixth globally.
Pakistan’s military budget is just one-tenth of that amount, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
Air & Ground Forces
On the battlefield, India’s advantage extends to tanks and aircraft.
India operates 4,201 tanks, compared to Pakistan’s 2,627. In the air, India has 2,229 aircraft versus Pakistan’s 1,399.
Michael Clarke, Sky’s security and defence analyst, said:
“The Indian forces are about double the size of Pakistan’s forces… if it came to a war, India will win.”
Nuclear Parity
The two nations are almost evenly matched in nuclear capability. India holds around 172 warheads and Pakistan 170, according to the Arms Control Association.
The Arms Control Association said: “With 170 plutonium-based nuclear warheads on short- and medium-range systems, Pakistan already has enough nuclear firepower to deter a nuclear attack from India and obliterate much of the subcontinent.”
It added that Pakistan “continues to produce fissile material and retains the option to use nuclear weapons first against non-nuclear military threats”.
Air Strike Claims
The current escalation has led to conflicting narratives.
Pakistani experts claimed that their smaller military had downed Indian warplanes, including a French-made Rafale jet. Indian authorities have yet to respond.
Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, said:
“The perception here in Islamabad is of pride and jubilation. The Pakistani military, especiallythe Pakistani Air Force, is seen to have done a wonderful job.
“India has struck all civilian targets because there were no militants there, as these were previously banned sites.
“But Pakistan, in retaliation, did it for all the military targets and we downed a number of Indian jets.”
“Despite being limited in numbers and capabilities, Pakistan engaged Indian military targets successfully not only in the air but also along the line of control and struck Indian aircraft on their own territory.”
Despite the serious risk of escalation, experts believe neither country can afford a prolonged conflict.
Christopher Clary, associate professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Albany, said:
“Both states can afford a short, limited conflict but neither state can afford a drawn-out, high-intensity conflict.
“Even a few weeks of high-intensity conflict would seriously strain both countries’ militaries.
“India can afford a drawn-out conflict more than Pakistan, but getting drawn into such a conflict would expose India to risks on its other front with China.
“This is about being able to declare a political victory at home, rather than meaningfully degrading adversary military capabilities.
That means this conflict is more about posturing than war-fighting, though there is serious fighting in small pockets and for brief periods.
“Governments are in the business of saying they are prepared even when they are unprepared.”
As the region braces for what comes next, world leaders are watching closely.
The consequences of miscalculation between these two nuclear neighbours could be catastrophic.
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