Priyanka Tiwari
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On Tuesday, Kashmir was hit by its worst terror attack since the 2019 Pulwama incident when terrorists shot at a popular tourist destination close to Pahalgam, resulting in the death of 20 people, most of whom were inter-state tourists. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Some discussions on social media were noted to have the flight paths of Pakistan Air Force aircraft, which is said to have taken off from Karachi and headed towards northern bases in Rawalpindi and Lahore, which are in close proximity to India’s borders, however there is no confirmation around these claims. However, the Defence Minister of Pakistan denied any association saying: “Pakistan has no link with the Pahalgam terror attack.”
India Vs Pakistan: 2025 Military Strength Comparison
In the face of soaring regional tensions, the Global Fire Power Index 2025 has placed India in the fourth position globally, with Pakistan falling to 12th place. Here's the comparison of the two countries:
Defence Budget
India: ₹6.8 lakh crore ($79 billion), marked a 9.5 percent rise from the previous fiscal year.
Pakistan: ₹2,281 billion ($8.2 billion), with a nominal increase of ₹159 billion for 2025-2026.
Defending Personnel
India: 1.45 million active personnel, 1.15 million reserves, and 2.5 million paramilitary forces.
Pakistan: 654,000 active personnel along with 500,000 paramilitary forces.
Ground Forces
Tanks : India – 4,201 | Pakistan - 2,627
Armored Vehicles: India - 148,594 | Pakistan - much fewer than India
Self propelled artillery: Pakistan has a slight upper hand.
Air Force
India: 2,229 total comprising of 513 fighter jets, 899 helicopters, 6 air refueling tankers.
Pakistan: 1,399 total comprising of 328 fighter jets, 373 helicopters, 4 air refueling tankers.
Navy
India: 293 naval personnel and equipment including 2 aircraft carriers, 18 submarines, destroyers, frigates, …
Pakistan: 121 incl. naval equipment without aircraft carrier or destroyers, 8 submarines
India’s navy is classified as a Blue-water navy, capable of global sea operations, while Pakistan’s limited capabilities gives it the classification of a Green-water navy which focuses on regional operations.
Forensic Analysis Links Attack To Military-Grade Support
As per the intelligence findings, the attackers had access to military-grade weaponry and sophisticated communication systems. During an attack, their logistics was managed in real time and trained survivors and operatives were directly in the vicinity of the attack, suggesting prior sophisticated planning.
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