India launched "Operation Sindoor" on Wednesday early morning, targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which it described as "terrorist infrastructure" linked to the recent massacre of 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan reported at least 26 civilian deaths and 46 injuries from these strikes, including the death of a three-year-old child. India claims the strikes were in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, which it attributes to Pakistan-based militants, a claim Pakistan denies.
In response, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft and launched retaliatory attacks, resulting in at least 10 civilian deaths in Indian-administered Kashmir, according to Indian reports. Both sides have exchanged heavy artillery and drone fire along the Line of Control, with each blaming the other for civilian casualties.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, the prospect of conflict remains a growing concern. In the event of war, how do their military forces and nuclear arsenals compare?
India ranks 4th globally in military strength, with a 2024 defense budget of $86 billion, compared to Pakistan’s $10.2 billion and its 12th place ranking. India also possesses a larger conventional arsenal, while Pakistan relies on its nuclear deterrent and support from China.
Both nuclear-armed states since 1998, have developed distinct nuclear doctrines and delivery capabilities shaped by their regional rivalries and strategic needs. India’s nuclear journey began with its first test in 1974, followed by a series of five tests in 1998 that formally established it as a nuclear weapons state. Its nuclear doctrine is primarily centered on credible minimum deterrence with a declared No First Use (NFU) policy. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), India’s nuclear deterrent is aimed at both Pakistan and China, and includes a growing arsenal of long-range and mobile land-based missiles. India is also working, in collaboration with Russia, on developing ship- and submarine-launched nuclear delivery systems to complete its nuclear triad.
Pakistan, in response to India’s nuclear developments, conducted its own tests in 1998 and maintains a more ambiguous nuclear doctrine. It has not committed to a No First Use policy and relies heavily on tactical and short-to-medium range ballistic missiles to deter a conventional military threat from India. Pakistan’s nuclear strategy is closely tied to its need to counterbalance India’s superior conventional forces. Its arsenal is largely mobile, enhancing survivability and rapid deployment. Chinese technical assistance has played a critical role in Pakistan's missile and nuclear development over the years, bolstering its capability to target key Indian assets and maintain strategic parity in the region.
India, the world’s second-largest arms importer from 2020–2024, sources weapons from Russia, France, the U.S., and Israel. Pakistan, with China as its dominant supplier, is the fifth-largest importer globally, with recent boosts in combat aircraft and naval assets underscoring its growing military ambitions.