How Pakistan, Afghanistan Taliban compare in military power

Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified with both sides claiming heavy losses and Pakistan’s defence minister declaring that the country was in an “open war” with its neighbour. The escalation marks one of the most serious flare-ups in tensions between the two countries since the return of the Taliban to power in Kabul in 2021.

The confrontation comes amid longstanding disputes over border security, militant sanctuaries and the porous Durand Line, which Pakistan accuses armed groups of using to stage attacks on its territory. The Afghan Taliban authorities have denied allowing cross-border militancy, blaming Pakistan for recent hostilities.

As tensions persist, here is a closer look at how Pakistan’s military capabilities compare with those of Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, based on data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies and defence analysts.

Personnel Strength

Pakistan maintains one of the largest standing militaries in the Muslim world. It has approximately 660,000 active personnel in its armed forces. Around 560,000 in the army, 70,000 in the air force and 30,000 in the navy.

In addition, Pakistan has sizeable paramilitary forces, including the Frontier Corps and Rangers, which are often deployed along the Afghan border.

By contrast, the Afghan Taliban’s military strength is estimated at 172,000 active personnel, though Taliban officials have announced plans to expand the force to 200,000. Much of Afghanistan’s current military equipment and manpower structure is inherited from the former Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, which collapsed in August 2021.

Despite numerical inferiority, Taliban forces are battle-hardened after two decades of insurgency warfare, giving them significant experience in guerrilla tactics and mountainous terrain operations.

Armoured Vehicles and Artillery

Pakistan possesses a substantial conventional land arsenal, including more than 6,000 armoured fighting vehicles and over 4,600 artillery pieces.

Its inventory includes modern main battle tanks such as the Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar, along with self-propelled artillery and multiple rocket launch systems.

Afghanistan also fields armoured fighting vehicles, including Soviet-era tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other inherited systems. However, the exact number remains unclear, as equipment availability and serviceability are uncertain. Analysts note that maintenance challenges and spare parts shortages may limit operational readiness.

Similarly, while Afghan forces are believed to possess artillery systems of at least three types, verified figures are unavailable.

Air Power

The disparity in air capabilities is particularly stark.Pakistan operates a fleet of approximately 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters, including multi-role, attack and transport platforms

Its air force includes advanced fighter jets such as the JF-17 Thunder and F-16 Fighting Falcon, providing Pakistan with significant aerial strike and air defence capabilities.

Afghanistan, by comparison, does not maintain a functioning air force in conventional terms. It is known to possess at least six fixed-wing aircraft and around 23 helicopters

Many of these aircraft date back to the Soviet era or were inherited from the previous Afghan government, and their operational condition is uncertain. Without meaningful air support, Afghanistan’s ability to project force beyond ground operations is severely limited.

Naval Forces

Pakistan also maintains a navy of about 30,000 personnel, equipped with frigates, submarines and patrol vessels operating primarily in the Arabian Sea. Afghanistan, being landlocked, has no navy.

Nuclear Capability

A critical strategic difference lies in nuclear weapons.

Pakistan is a declared nuclear-armed state, estimated to possess around 170 nuclear warheads, along with ballistic missile delivery systems. Its nuclear arsenal serves primarily as a deterrent against regional rival India, but it underscores the vast strategic gap between Islamabad and Kabul. Afghanistan does not possess nuclear weapons.