How Indian Military Might Dwarfs Pakistan

It is common knowledge that there is a gulf between India and Pakistan in its defence capabilities, but an indication of how wide it is came yesterday when the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published its latest data about the military expenditures of the world. If the spend of all countries put together was $2718 billion in 2024, then the top five nations made for 60 per cent of it and India was in that list.

Its military expenditure of US$ 86.1 billion for 2024 put it fifth place. This was much behind the top two—United States with $997 billion, and China at US$ 314 billion—but when it came to the immediate threat from across the border, it was eight and half times what Pakistan is able to spend. Their military expenditure was only US$ 10.1 billion. Historically, after independence, India could outspend Pakistan by three to four times but it was from the new millennium, the last 25 years, onwards, in keeping with India’s galloping economic progress while Pakistan crumbled into a failed state, that the ratio turned so huge.

 

In just about every parameter of defence, India outstrips Pakistan. The Global Firepower Index which comes out every year and tracks the defence capabilities of nations, has a section where comparisons can be made. It tells you that India has over 800,000 more active and 600000 more reserve personnel.  India has 513 fighter aircraft to Pakistan’s 328; 899 helicopters to their 399; 148594 armored vehicles to their  17516. In naval power, India’s fleet strength of 293 is two and half times their 121. We have two aircraft carriers while they have none, and 18 submarines to their eight.

In a conventional war, with such overwhelming superiority, there is no question of who has the upper hand. It is why Pakistan keeps pointing towards its nuclear arsenal. A minister recently said at a press conference that they had 130 nuclear weapons trained on India. But even on this front India has overtaken Pakistan. The  Status of World Nuclear Forces, 2025 report by the Federation of American Scientists says that India now has 180 nuclear weapons, 10 more than what Pakistan has.

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