LAHORE: War drums on either side of the border are now reverberating louder as both Pakistan and India wish to bleed each other with a thousand cuts, The News reported.

Comparison between the current military strengths of the two nuclear powers, which have fought four major wars since 1947 besides being engaged in several conflicts centered mainly on the Kashmir issue, is quite intriguing.

Let us have a look at the latest weapon stockpiles of Pakistan and India:

According to the “Global Firepower,” a widely-quoted international website that has been evaluating the military strengths of 145 countries since 2006, Pakistan is listed at number 12 in 2025, while India is fourth on the list of most power militaries, behind United States, Russia and China.

Meanwhile, the globally-acclaimed Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in its most recent report released a couple of days ago, says India is the fifth-largest military spender globally, spending $86 billion or almost nine times more than Pakistan, which has been placed at the 29th spot with $10 billion.

SIPRI says the 10 largest military spenders are US ($997 billion), China ($314 billion), Russia ($149 billion), Germany ($88 billion), India ($86 billion), UK ($82 billion), Saudi Arabia ($80 billion), Ukraine ($65 billion), France ($65 billion) and Japan ($55 billion).

The “Global Firepower Index” has come up with the following statistics for the two nuclear neighbours:

Pakistan

Active military personnel (654,000), paramilitary forces (500,000), reserve personnel (550,000), 1399 aircraft, 328 fighter aircraft, 373 helicopters, 2627 tanks, 17516 armoured vehicles, 662 self-propelled artillery, 2629 towed artillery, 600 mobile rocket projectors, naval fleet strength (121), aircraft carriers (Zero), submarines (08), frigates (09), patrol vessels (69), airports (116), merchant marines (60), and ports and terminals (03).

India:

Active personnel (14,55,550), paramilitary forces (25,27,000), reserve personnel (11,55,000), 2229 aircraft , 513 fighter aircraft, 899 helicopters, 4201 tanks, 148,594 armoured vehicles, 100 self-propelled artillery, 3975 towed artillery, 264 mobile rocket projectors, naval fleet strength (293), aircraft carriers (02), submarines (18), frigates (14), patrol vessels (135), airports (311), merchant barines (1859), and ports and terminals (56).

It is imperative to note that according to the June 2024 report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India’s nuclear arsenal was estimated to be slightly larger than Pakistan’s, with India possessing 172 nuclear warheads, and Pakistan having 170.

This was the first time in 25 years that India’s stockpile had surpassed Pakistan’s.

Historically, western assessments, including those from Sipri and the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), have shown Pakistan maintaining a slight lead over India in terms of nuclear arsenal size, generally by a margin of five to 10 weapons.

Sipri had estimated that India’s nuclear delivery systems included fighter jets, land-based ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched missiles, while Pakistan’s nuclear forces comprised of aircraft, ground-launched ballistic/cruise missiles, and sea-launched cruise missiles. 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute had maintained less than a year ago that Pakistan possessed a small stockpile of nuclear gravity bombs and developing cruise missiles like the Ra’ad (Hatf-8), which enhanced the nuclear stand-off capability of its Air Force at ranges between 350 and 600 km. 

Similarly, its combat aircraft such as the Mirage-III, Mirage-V, F-16, and JF-17 are considered potential nuclear-delivery platforms, though their exact roles remain unconfirmed.

On the other hand, India’s developing nuclear triad included aircraft, land-based missiles, and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

Sipri noted: “Traditionally, India has kept nuclear warheads and launchers separate during peacetime, but recent actions suggest a shift towards mating some warheads with launchers in peacetime.”

The Institute further asserts that India’s airborne nuclear capability includes aircraft like the Mirage 2000H, Jaguar IS, and Rafale, with about 48 nuclear gravity bombs assigned to these platforms.

It revealed: “The Indian land-based missile arsenal includes several types of ballistic missiles, with newer models like the Agni-P nearing deployment. The sea-based leg of the triad is expanding with four to six Ballistic Missile Submarines, planned, enhancing India’s second-strike capabilities. India has achieved intercontinental ranges and with upcoming Agni-VI and Surya missiles it will be able to target any country in the world.”

The Sipri report had further viewed: “Globally, the total number of nuclear warheads is estimated at 12,121, with 9,585 of these in military stockpiles ready for potential use. About 2,100 warheads are maintained in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles, primarily by Russia and the US, with China recently joining this high-alert grouping. all nine nuclear-armed countries, the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel, are modernising their arsenals and deploying new nuclear-capable weapon systems.”

Commenting on the subject in Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada’s show, General (retd) Nasir Janjua, who served as the Seventh National Security Adviser of Pakistan from October 2015 until his resignation in June 2018, said: “The door to war between Pakistan and India has been closed, and if it hasn’t, then it will lead to total destruction. Conventional war capability is connected to nuclear capability, and that Pakistan can defend its country very well. Whatever India does, we will respond befittingly. India should bring those responsible for the Pulwama incident to justice instead of blaming Pakistan for its own failure.”

Lieutenant-General Ghulam Mustafa, a war veteran who commanded various military formations including a Corps and Army Strategic Forces Command, viewed: “The roots of this conflict lie not only in political miscalculations but also in contrasting worldviews and social hierarchies embedded within the region’s history. India’s society has long been shaped by the caste system. Hinduism is not just a religion—it is a social order built around strict hierarchies, where lower castes, especially Dalits or ‘untouchables,’ were denied dignity, mobility, and rights. 

“At the top of this structure were the Brahmins, who held not only religious authority but also dictated social norms and controlled the cultural narrative across the Indian subcontinent. Hindu nationalism today seeks to redefine India’s identity in religious terms. This is not just about politics; it’s about reshaping society itself. And Kashmir is the frontline of that ideological battle,” he added.

He asserted: “We are not just defending borders—we are defending a vision of justice, identity, and dignity. We do not want war, but we will not accept domination. That is the core of our position. But they should make no mistake about the fact that we are a fully equipped combat Army, ready to face any situation.”

Former GOC Swat, Major General Ijaz Awan remarked: “They might be pondering over launching a strike on any of our military positions on the Line of Control or may opt to orchestrate a terror attack in Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa just to claim a quid pro quo, which will in fact be a face-saving. No missile exchange is likely; it is risk prone. They know if they attack Bahawalpur or Sialkot. However, they think they can exhaust us by keeping us guessing and on high alert. We are military force to reckon with and India knows it.”