As tensions escalate between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, global attention is turning to the possibility of a limited military conflict. The recent brazen assault on civilians in Pahalgam, which occurred on April 22, 2025, marked the deadliest attack in the region in years, claiming the lives of 25 Indian tourists and a Nepali national. India has termed this act as cross-border terrorism, pointing fingers at Pakistan, which has vehemently denied any involvement. In response, Islamabad has warned that it will retaliate against any aggression.
In the event of a limited conflict, India’s superior conventional military strength offers it strategic leverage. According to the Global Firepower Index 2025, India ranks 4th globally in military capability, while Pakistan ranks 12th. India’s armed forces comprise over 1.45 million active personnel and 2.5 million paramilitary troops, significantly outnumbering Pakistan’s 654,000 active troops and 500,000 paramilitary forces.
India’s military arsenal includes 4,201 tanks, over 148,000 armored vehicles, and 4,204 towed artillery guns. Although Pakistan has a slight advantage in self-propelled artillery, India’s mobile firepower and border infrastructure have improved considerably, aided by modernization and technology integration.
India’s air power has also expanded significantly, boasting 2,229 aircraft, including 513 fighter jets and 899 helicopters. This gives India aerial superiority over Pakistan, which has only 1,399 aircraft and 328 fighters. Notably, the Indian Air Force (IAF) now fields Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles—precision-guided munitions with strike ranges over 300 km, enabling deep strikes without crossing the border. A ₹63,000 crore deal with France for 26 Rafale Marine jets is set to further enhance India’s air-naval capabilities.
India’s Navy has transformed into a true blue-water force, with 293 warships, including two aircraft carriers (INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant), 18 submarines, and 13 destroyers. In contrast, Pakistan lacks aircraft carriers and has only eight submarines. The recent induction of MQ-9B Predator drones from the U.S. further enhances India’s surveillance and targeting capacity in the Indian Ocean Region.
In terms of defense budget, India’s allocation for FY 2025–26 stands at ₹6.8 lakh crore ($79 billion), nearly eight times that of Pakistan. The Indian government is aggressively pushing for modernization and self-reliance in defense manufacturing, with defense exports surging by 78% in Q1 of FY2024–25. A target of ₹50,000 crore in defense exports over five years has been set, alongside the inauguration of a C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in 2024.
Nuclear preparedness is another critical aspect, with India maintaining approximately 160 nuclear warheads and delivery capabilities including ICBMs, SLBMs, and air-launched cruise missiles. On the cyber front, India has expanded both its defensive and offensive capabilities under a dedicated cyber command, enhancing cross-border surveillance and electronic warfare capacities.
Following the Pahalgam attack, investigations are underway to confirm potential links to Pakistani state or non-state actors. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack, suggesting a well-coordinated operation.
In retaliation, India initiated Operation Sindoor, a powerful military operation that took place in the pre-dawn hours of May 7, 2025. This operation involved strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting locations associated with terrorist training and infiltration.
The operation was coordinated across all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force—marking a significant escalation in India’s military response. The strikes were executed at 1:44 AM when most of Pakistan was asleep, and sources indicate that approximately 80-90 terrorists were eliminated during this operation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the Pahalgam attack was conducted by LeT-affiliated terrorists with active support from Pakistan. He highlighted the brutality of the attack, where victims were executed in front of their families, aimed at instilling fear and undermining the return of peace and tourism to Jammu and Kashmir.
Misri emphasized that the operation was a required, proportional, and non-escalatory reaction to a heinous provocation. He stated, "Our intelligence agencies tracking the activities of terrorists have reported that there may be further attacks on India, and it was felt necessary to both prevent and address them." The precision raids were directed exclusively against dismantling terrorist networks, not military installations, showcasing India's self-restraint amid the escalating tensions.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the United States stepping in as a mediator, urging both sides to exercise restraint. The United Nations has called for “maximum restraint” ahead of a scheduled emergency Security Council session. In a significant show of solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Pahalgam attack and pledged Russia’s “full support” in the fight against terrorism, confirming an upcoming visit to India.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the region remains on edge. As India weighs military options, including potential targeted strikes on terror infrastructure, its strategic doctrine appears far more calibrated and lethal than in previous years. The stakes are high, and all eyes are on how both nations will navigate this precarious situation.
