FLASH
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India's air strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir following last month's deadly militant attack on the Indian-administered side of the disputed region have raised fears of a dangerous escalation in the conflict.
It is not yet known what specific weapons were used in Wednesday morning's attacks, which Delhi said targeted "terror camps", although Islamabad said civilian infrastructure, including mosques, was hit.
However, India has reportedly deployed Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP air-to-surface missiles.
But what is known is that the nuclear-armed neighbors have been increasing their military capabilities since they clashed in a series of border skirmishes in 2019.
As of 2024, India has 36 Rafale fighter jets, eight two-seat variants and 28 single-seat variants, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The aircraft were purchased under a 2016 intergovernmental agreement between India and France, which included a weapons package. This package contained MICA and SCALP missiles.
Between 2020 and 2024, about a third of India's arms imports came from France, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.
Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, on Wednesday after the Indian attack.
If that were the case, the Pakistani military would have used surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).
While according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Pakistan has more than 200 SAMs.
Although, for context, India has over 800 in all of its armed forces.
How do India and Pakistan rank?
According to Sky News, India's overall military capabilities significantly exceed that of Pakistan.
It ranks fourth in the world compared to Pakistan's 12th place, according to the Global Firepower index, which takes into account a number of factors to assess military strength.
In terms of personnel, India has 1,237,000 active personnel in its army, 75,000 in the navy, and 149,900 in the air force.
Pakistan has less than half that with 560,000 active personnel in the army, 30,000 in the navy and 70,000 in the air force.
India's armed forces are twice as large as Pakistan's.
SkyNews security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke said: "Indian forces are about twice the size of Pakistan's forces... if it were a war, India would win."
He added: "If it's below the level of a war, if it's some kind of military confrontation, then Pakistan might think it can get something out of it."
Also, both forces have similar nuclear capabilities.
India has about 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has about 170, according to the American institute "Federation of American Scientists".
However, experts agree that it is unlikely that either side will use its nuclear powers at this stage.
Professor Clarke thinks: "Nuclear weapons will only be used by any country if its existence is at risk. Nothing that happens in Kashmir threatens the existence of Pakistan or India."
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