India has launched military strikes against Pakistan, putting the two neighbors with nuclear arms on the Brink of a total war.
The push means that two of the largest soldiers in the region are again face to face.
The stand-off pits India, a world defense giant, against a country that can be much smaller, but which is nevertheless strongly militarized and has devoted a significant part of its resources to prepare for war.
As the most populous nation in the world, India has one of the largest soldiers, about 1.5 million members of active service staff, which includes 1.2 million in the army, 60,000 in the navy and 127,000 in the Air Force. India also has 1.6 million paramilitary forces and a reserve of 1.1 million.
The country is a heavyweight of defense expenses. Its defense expenses reached 58 billion pounds Sterling ($ 77.4 billion) in 2024, the second highest spending in Asia after China.
The members of the National Cadet Corps train in Kolkata, India – Nurphoto / Sudipta Das
Meanwhile, the Pakistani population is a fifth of the size and the country has been mired in an economic crisis for years.
Last year, Pakistan's defense budget would have been the 10th of that of its eastern neighbor.
Pakistan has become strongly militarized to repel Indian control, which has reached a high price for its democracy.
The army exercises significant control over the civil government, with Syed Asim MunnirThe army chief, widely considered to be the most powerful man in the country.
While the soldiers of India are increasingly deployed to face China, Pakistan has built a defense posture and a doctrine turning almost entirely in India.
Pakistan aligns a total of approximately 660,000 members of active service staff, including 560,000 in the army, 23,800 in the navy and 70,000 in the air force. It also has 280,000 paramilitary forces thoroughly, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
In limited exchanges, like those seen in the pastPakistan can strike over its weight, although analysts say that Delhi's numerical and economic superiority could quickly go to a full war.
Pakistan has looked greatly in recent years to China for its arms, moving away from more expensive Western suppliers.
India has large quantities of equipment from Russia, but has started to buy more in France and America.
On the battlefield, India would have around 3,700 main combat tanks, including the Arjun, T-72 and T-90 models.
Smoke increases after a missile strike by India against a target in Pakistan – Punit Paranjpe / AFP
Pakistan has around 2,500, including the Al-Khalid, T-80, T-54 /55, Type-59 / Al Zarrar, Type-69 and type 85 models.
Each country also has an important air force. India has a mixture including Dassault Rafale fighters, Sukhoi Su-30 and MIG-29, MIG-27 and MIG-21.
Pakistan has Chinese J-10 and JF-17, as well as American F-16s, Mirage 3S and Mirage 5.
Both countries can be closer to parity in their nuclear weapons.
An explosion in western Rajasthan India during an air exercise – Manish Swarup / AP
India carried out its first nuclear test in 1974 and Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998.
India has never declared the size of its nuclear armament, but an assessment places the country's stock at 160 nuclear warheads, according to the Center for Arms Control and nuclear proliferation.
Other reports suggest that India has up to 170. These can be deployed in terrestrial ballistic missiles, missiles and planes launched by submarine with nuclear bombs and missiles.
It is also estimated that Pakistan had around 170 warheads and ballistic missiles capable of nuclear power of variable beaches. The country can also launch weapons from planes. In 2017, Pakistan tested a missile launched underwater, although this is not yet considered ready to use.
Even a small nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could kill 20 million people in a week, according to the Center for Arms Control and nuclear proliferation.
