Strategically, Pakistan is in a weak position towards India. Her main military supply bases are in West Pakistan, some 1,200 miles by direct air route and 2,500 by sea from East Pakistan, with India between. On the other hand, India has to keep a considerable part of her larger army watching the Chinese on their Himalayan frontier. The main units of their navies compare as follows:

                       India                    Pakistan

Aircraft carriers         1                         -

Cruisers                  2                         1

Destroyers                3                         2

Destroyers escorts        9                         4*

Submarines                4                         4

* including 1 fast frigate.

India has naval bases on both coasts between West and East Pakistan. The total manpower of the Indian Navy is 40,000, that of Pakistan 10,000.

The Indian Air Force has a strength of 80,000 men and 625 combat aircraft, while Pakistan has 17,000 men and 285 combat aircraft. India has British, French, Russian and American aircraft and SA2 SAM complexes for air defence. The Pakistan force includes Russian, French and American aircraft and apparently no surface-to-air missiles.

A rough comparison of the two armies shows that India has some 860,000 men, plus 100,000 in the Border Security Force, against Pakistan’s 365,000 plus 280,000 in para-military forces. The distribution is:

                         India                  Pakistan

Armoured Divisions         1                        2

Ind. Armoured Brigade      2                        1

Infantry Divisions         13                    12 plus

Mountain Divisions         10                       -

Ind. Int. Bgds             6                        -

Para Bdgs                  2                        -

A.A. Units                 20                       1*



* Air Defence Brigade.

India has some 200 Centurians, 250 Shermans and 300 Vijayanta medium tanks. Pakistan has 200 American M47 and M48 tanks, 50 T-55 and 225 T- 59 tanks.