India
Military Power Ranking 2026

First Indo-Pak War (1947–1948)

Following partition, India and Pakistan clashed over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces intervened after the Maharaja acceded to India. ^[80] The war ended in a UN-brokered ceasefire in January 1949, with Pakistan retaining control of Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Kashmir. A ceasefire line was delineated in 1949; the Line of Control (LoC) followed under the 1972 Simla Agreement. The conflict set the precedent for subsequent India–Pakistan confrontations. Despite later fighting and local territorial changes, Kashmir remained divided rather than resolved through a decisive military settlement. ^[81].

Sino-Indian War (1962)

India suffered a devastating defeat against China in a short, high-altitude conflict in Ladakh and what is now Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese troops overran Indian positions due to superior logistics and coordination. India suffered heavy casualties before China unilaterally declared a ceasefire. Chinese forces withdrew from their advances in the eastern sector while retaining control of Aksai Chin in the west. ^[82].

Second Indo-Pak War (1965)

Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar in Kashmir, followed by open conflict. India counterattacked in Punjab and Lahore sectors. Despite large-scale tank battles, the war ended in a military stalemate and a UN-backed ceasefire in September 1965. ^[83], ^[84]. The January 1966 Tashkent Declaration then provided for withdrawal to positions held before August 5, 1965. ^[85]. MPR views Pakistan’s defense against India’s counterattack as a success despite the overall stalemate.

Indo-Pak War and Bangladesh Liberation (1971)

India supported the Mukti Bahini insurgency in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The Bangladesh war of independence began in March 1971 and continued for almost nine months. India provided arms and training before December, and Indian forces were involved in border fighting before the all-out interstate war began on December 3. The final campaign ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan, formalized in Dhaka on December 16. ^[86].

The Pakistani garrison forces in the east were already isolated and beleaguered by the insurgency. U.S. assessments described ammunition rationing and an outnumbered eastern army under mounting pressure. ^[87], ^[88]. On December 7, President Yahya Khan reported inadequate artillery and air support and the loss of resupply and reinforcement. ^[89]. While often cited as a decisive Indian victory, the campaign was heavily influenced by the local insurgency and the geographic isolation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan. The western front ended separately in a ceasefire on December 17, without a corresponding surrender of Pakistan’s western army. ^[90].

For MPR’s assessment of who would prevail in battle, the eastern victory must therefore be weighed in its specific circumstances: a prolonged Bengali insurgency, an isolated and depleted defending force, and a short final Indian campaign. It was a military victory for the Indian and Bangladeshi forces, but it does not by itself establish that India could decisively defeat Pakistan’s main forces in a different theater or under different conditions.

Operation Blue Star (1984)

A controversial internal military operation against Sikh separatists holed up in the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation led to hundreds of casualties and intensified domestic unrest, including the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and subsequent anti-Sikh riots. ^[91].

Kargil War (1999)

Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry (NLI) occupied strategic heights in the Kargil sector. India launched Operation Vijay to reclaim the positions. The fighting was intense, with India suffering significant casualties in uphill assaults. Ultimately, Pakistani withdrawal followed Indian military pressure and diplomatic negotiations after U.S. intervention. Pakistan maintained the initiative for much of the conflict, as Benjamin Lambeth’s analysis notes, while India presented the eventual outcome as a victory. ^[92], ^[93].

Counterinsurgency in Kashmir (1989–Present)

India has conducted continuous military operations against militants and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. Operations involve regular army units, paramilitary forces, and special forces under AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act). The region remains heavily militarized with frequent clashes. ^[94], ^[95], ^[96].

“Surgical Strikes” in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (2016)

In response to a terrorist attack in Uri, India said its special forces conducted “surgical strikes” on suspected militant camps across the Line of Control (LoC). While widely publicized by Indian media and officials, the operation’s full scope and results remained disputed. A BBC field investigation reported Indian crossings and attacks on nearby Pakistani border posts but found little evidence that militant targets had been hit. Pakistan denied the targeted raids, describing the exchanges as cross-border firing. ^[97]. MPR treats the claimed anti-militant success as unproven, despite the operation’s political prominence.

Border Skirmishes with China (2017–2022)

Incidents include the Doklam standoff (2017) and Galwan Valley clash (2020), where troops engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat at high altitude. The Galwan conflict resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers; China subsequently acknowledged four deaths. The crisis led to a prolonged military standoff and buildup in Ladakh. ^[98], ^[99], ^[100].

Balakot Air Skirmish (2019)

Following a terrorist attack in Pulwama, India launched an airstrike on Balakot inside Pakistan. However, Reuters found the targeted madrasa buildings apparently undamaged in satellite imagery. ^[101]. Its reporters observed craters and splintered trees near the strike site. In the retaliatory response, Pakistan shot down an Indian MiG-21, capturing the pilot. ^[102]. MPR assesses the incident as exposing the risks of relying on aging aircraft, weaknesses in air combat integration, and difficulties in controlling escalation. In MPR’s assessment, the operation failed to demonstrate tactical or strategic success and amounted to a setback for India.

Pahalgam Conflict and Operation Sindoor (2025)

After gunmen killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, India launched retaliatory airstrikes in May 2025, initiating Operation Sindoor. ^[103], ^[104]. The opening engagement was among the largest air battles in decades, according to experts interviewed by Reuters. Pakistan claimed six Indian aircraft, including at least three Rafales; India acknowledged initial air losses but offered no specifics and disputed Pakistan’s six-aircraft claim. ^{[105] [141]}. France’s air chief said he had seen evidence of one Rafale, one Sukhoi and one Mirage 2000 loss. ^[106]. The Washington Post identified two aircraft types and a possible third crash site, without establishing shootdown causes. ^[107]. Reuters subsequently reported that a Pakistani J-10 using a PL-15 missile downed at least one Rafale, drawing on officials from both sides and earlier U.S. assessments. It also documented later Indian strikes on Pakistani military infrastructure. ^[104]. MPR assesses the opening air engagement as revealing serious vulnerabilities in India’s air force and demonstrating Pakistan’s tactical edge through Chinese-supplied platforms and more effective situational awareness.