How do the military capabilities of Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan compare amid rising tensions?

Overnight, cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated sharply, with both sides reporting significant casualties. Pakistan’s defence minister described the situation as an “open war” between the neighbouring states.

As tensions continue, here is a comparison of their military capabilities, based on data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

OVERVIEW

Pakistan’s armed forces maintain strong recruitment and retention levels, supported by military hardware supplied largely by its key defence partner, China. Islamabad continues to invest in its nuclear weapons programme while upgrading both its naval and air capabilities.

By contrast, the military strength of the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has been eroding. Since returning to power in 2021, the group has struggled to effectively operate much of the foreign equipment it seized. The lack of international recognition has further hampered efforts to modernise its forces.

PERSONNEL

Pakistan’s military comprises around 660,000 active personnel — including approximately 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force, and 30,000 in the navy.

The Taliban’s forces are considerably smaller, with an estimated 172,000 active personnel. However, the group has announced plans to expand its ranks to 200,000.

FIGHTING VEHICLES AND ARTILLERY

Pakistan fields more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles and over 4,600 artillery systems.

Afghan forces are believed to possess armoured vehicles such as Soviet-era main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and autonomous underwater vehicles. However, precise figures remain unclear. The exact number of artillery systems — spanning at least three categories — is also unknown.

AIR FORCE

Pakistan operates around 465 combat aircraft along with more than 260 helicopters, including multi-role, attack, and transport variants.

Afghanistan, in contrast, has no operational fighter jets and lacks a fully functional air force. It is known to have at least six aircraft — some dating back to the Soviet period — and 23 helicopters, though how many are airworthy remains uncertain.

NUCLEAR ARSENAL

Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state with an estimated 170 warheads. Afghanistan does not possess nuclear weapons.