Pahalgam terror attack: With Kashmir being the primary flashpoint, India and Pakistan have witnessed full-scale wars, proxy conflicts, and military standoffs that have dramatically influenced the South Asian geopolitical environment. The Pahalgam Terror Attack in April 2025, which killed at least 26 tourists, has further worsened relations, leading to major diplomatic and strategic fallout.
India is one of the top military spenders globally, spending almost nine times more than its nuclear-armed neighbour, Pakistan. According to a report, India spent $86 billion in 2024, making it the fifth-largest military spender after the US, China, Russia and Germany.
Pakistan spent $10bn that year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The top five military spenders — the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India — accounted for 60% of the global total, with combined spending of $1,635 billion, as per the Swedish think-tank report.
The report comes at a time when the strained diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan reached a new low in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 tourists dead. Apart from Pakistan, India was also engaged in a border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
