Pakistan’s Strength Vs Afghanistan’s Tactics: How 2 Militaries Stack Up Amid ‘Open War’ Explained

Last Updated:February 27, 2026, 11:53 IST

A look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan's military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based Institute for Strategic Studies

The cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an “open war" with its neighbour.

A look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan’s military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based Institute for Strategic Studies.

Pakistan’s armed forces benefit from good recruitment and retention, bolstered by equipment from its main defence partner China. Islamabad continues to invest in its military nuclear programmes and is also modernising its navy and air force, Reuters reported.

The capability of the Afghan Taliban’s armed forces, meanwhile, is declining, with a fall in their ability to use foreign equipment that the Islamist group seized when it returned to power in the landlocked country in 2021. A lack of international recognition for the Taliban administration has also hurt military modernisation.

How Pakistan and Afghanistan militaries stack up:

PERSONNEL

Pakistan: Ranked 9th globally in 2025, Pakistan maintains 660,000 active personnel, including 560,000 in the army.

Afghanistan: Ranked 55th, the Taliban-led military has approximately 172,000 active personnel.

FIGHTING VEHICLES AND ARTILLERY

Pakistan: Operates over 6,000 armoured vehicles and 4,600 pieces of artillery. It benefits from advanced equipment supplied by China.

Afghanistan: Primarily uses captured U.S. and Soviet-era gear, including Humvees and M4 rifles. While they possess some tanks and artillery, exact numbers are unknown, and maintenance is a major challenge due to lack of international recognition.

AIR AND NAVAL FORCE

Pakistan: It has a fleet of 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters that include multi-role, attack and transport choppers.

Afghanistan: The country has no fighter jets and no real air force to speak of. It is known to possess at least six aircraft – some of them dating back again to the Soviet era – and 23 helicopters, although it is not possible to assess how many are in flying condition.

ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGES

Despite Pakistan’s conventional superiority, the Taliban utilises guerrilla tactics and deep knowledge of the rugged border terrain to challenge the Pakistani military. They often employ small, stealthy units for high-impact raids on border posts

NUCLEAR ARSENAL

Pakistan: Is a nuclear-armed state with an estimated 170 warheads.

Afghanistan: Does not possess nuclear weapons.

With Reuters inputs

News explainers Pakistan’s Strength Vs Afghanistan’s Tactics: How 2 Militaries Stack Up Amid ‘Open War’ Explained

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