24 February, 2010

Indo-Pak Military Might

I came across this news today morning.
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REUTERS - The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in New Delhi on Thursday, marking the resumption of official contacts which India broke off after militants attacked Mumbai in late 2008.

Following are estimates of the military strength of Pakistan and India, as well as some information about where troops are believed to be deployed:

PAKISTAN

Defence budget: Pakistan increased defence spending by more than 15 percent in June last year to 343 billion rupees ($4.2 billion) for the 2009-10 fiscal year ending on June 30.

Estimated nuclear warheads: 25 to 50

Troops: about 620,000 active, about 515,000 reserves, about 290,9000 paramilitary.

Equipment: about 2,460 tanks, about 2,000 artillery pieces, about 1,250 armoured personnel carriers. The air force has about 415 combat aircraft while the navy has 8 submarines, 7 surface combatants.

Pakistan's air force this month inducted JF-17 Thunder, medium-technology jets produced with the help of China. The aircraft is equivalent to the Mirage but has better avionics and weapons.

In December, Pakistan acquired the first of four airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from Sweden.

Missile types and ranges: Shaheen 1 (600 km/375 miles), Shaheen 2 (up to 2,000 km/1,200 miles), Ghauri 1 (1,500/940 miles) Ghauri 2 (2,300 km/1,440 miles), Hatf 1 (100 km/63 miles), Hatf 2 (180 km/110 miles), Hatf 3 (290 km/180 miles), Babur cruise missile (500 km/310 miles).

Deployment: The military does not publish information about the deployment of troops but it has said nearly 150,000 soldiers, from both the army and paramilitary forces, have been deployed in the border regions with Afghanistan fighting al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The remainder are stationed at bases around the country, many of them near the so-called Line of Control that divides the Kashmir region, and near the international border with India that runs south to the Arabian Sea.

INDIA

Defence budget: India increased defence spending by nearly a quarter in February last year to $28.9 billion for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

India plans to spend $30 billion to modernise its largely Soviet-era arms over the next four years.

Estimated nuclear warheads: 70-100

Troops: India's military strength stands at 1.3 million, the fourth largest in the world and growing in strength with thousands recruited every year.

Equipment: The army has around 4,000 tanks, 4,500 artillery and 300 armored personnel carriers and a combat aircraft strength of around 700. The Indian Navy has one aircraft carrier, 16 submarines, eight destroyers and 16 frigates.

India plans to buy 126 air and ground attack fighters, which will elevate its air force to super-power status, with deployments planned near the borders with Pakistan and China, officials say. In May last year, India acquired the first of three AWACS from Israel.

Missile types and ranges: Agni 1 (2,500 km/1,560 miles), Agni 2 (3,000 km/1,875 miles; upgraded, up to 3,500 km/2,190 miles), Prithvi SS-150 (150 km/94 miles), Prithvi SS-250 (250 km/156 miles). India said this month it could test a new nuclear-capable missile with a 5,000-km (3,100-mile) range within a year.

Deployment: The Indian military does not give information about deployment of troops but has said its troops are on standby and presently stationed at bases around the country. India also has a huge military presence near the Line of Control.

India says it has made no new deployments since the Mumbai attacks.

(Compiled by Islamabad and New Delhi bureaux; Editing by Jerry Norton)

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