Pak-India War 2025

Throughout 2024 and 2025, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly claimed to have evidence of RAW's involvement in 'extra-judicial killings' within Pakistan. These allegations were part of a broader diplomatic war at the UN and other international forums, which India dismissed as propaganda.

The DSDBO road and its various heavy-load bridges are critical for India's defense of Ladakh. In 2025, the ability of these bridges to carry heavy T-90 Bhishma tanks was a concern for Pakistan's northern defense planning, as it implies a permanent heavy-armored presence near the Siachen and LoC gateway.

Project Azm is a strategic initiative by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to develop a 5th-generation fighter and high-tech Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). In 2025, it was integrated into the 'Greenfield' Special Technology Zones to attract domestic R&D and reduce foreign dependence.

China remains Pakistan's 'all-weather' partner. By 2025, the relationship had deepened with the joint production of JF-17 Block III, J-10C maintenance, and the delivery of Hangor-class submarines and VT-4 tanks, filling the gap left by reduced US military aid.

The S-400, acquired by India from Russia, has a long-range capability that covers a significant portion of Pakistani airspace from within Indian territory. In 2025, the presence of these batteries forced the PAF to develop more advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) and standoff weapon capabilities.

The Army Cyber Command was operationalized to protect the country's military and critical infrastructure from digital attacks. In 2025, this unit played a key role in countering Indian 'information warfare' and hacking attempts targeting government databases.

The Pakistan Navy's Maritime Science and Technology Park (PMSTP) in Karachi was designed to foster indigenous naval technology. In 2025, it focused on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and marine surveillance tech to counter the Indian Navy's numerical advantage.

The SIFC was used as a 'single-window' to attract foreign investment (particularly from Gulf countries) into Pakistan's defense production. The 2025 goal was to turn entities like POF and HIT into export-oriented industries to generate foreign exchange.

The T-90 Bhishma is the mainstay of the Indian Army's armored corps. In 2025, the tactical balance in the Punjab plains depends on the comparison between India's T-90s and Pakistan's VT-4 (imported from China) and Al-Khalid tanks.

Unlike India, which has a formal 'No First Use' (NFU) policy, Pakistan has never signed an NFU. In 2025, Pakistan maintains that its nuclear weapons are a deterrent against conventional and nuclear aggression from a much larger neighbor and will be used as a last resort.

NESCOM (National Engineering and Scientific Commission) oversees the Babur cruise missile series. In 2025, the Babur-3 (submarine-launched) is a critical part of Pakistan's sea-based second-strike capability, ensuring a strategic balance in the Arabian Sea.

The 2024 General Elections in India and the subsequent J&K assembly elections saw national security and 'standing up to Pakistan' as major political themes. This domestic political environment ensured that no major diplomatic breakthrough occurred through 2025.

The Ababeel is a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology. Its purpose is to ensure the survivability of Pakistan's missiles against India's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and S-400 systems.

Mushaf and Minhas are critical bases for PAF's AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft. In 2025, these 'eyes in the sky' provided constant monitoring of Indian aircraft movements, preventing a repeat of a Balakot-style surprise.

The Bayraktar TB2 and the more powerful Akıncı are Turkish-made drones. By 2025, Pakistan had operationalized several units, significantly boosting its capabilities for long-range surveillance and precision strikes, as proven in other modern conflicts like Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Hybrid Model was the proposed solution for the 2025 Champions Trophy. India would play its matches in the UAE or Sri Lanka, while the rest of the tournament would stay in Pakistan. It highlighted the deep lack of trust and the use of sports as a diplomatic tool.

Sir Creek is a 96-km strip of water in the Rann of Kutch marshlands. The dispute over its boundary has huge implications for the maritime 'Exclusive Economic Zone' (EEZ). In 2025, it remained a heavily patrolled area with frequent arrests of fishermen from both sides.

While the border with India was the site of conventional tension, KPK and Balochistan saw the most IBOs. Pakistan frequently claimed that militants in these areas were receiving 'external support' (referring to India via Afghanistan) to destabilize the country.

The MiG-21 Bison, which was shoot down by the PAF in 2019, was gradually retired by India. By 2025, the indigenous Tejas Mk1A had started replacing these aging jets, altering the tactical landscape of the 'dogfights' along the border.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's 2023 visit to Goa for the SCO was the first by a Pakistani FM to India in 12 years. However, the visit ended in mutual recriminations, reinforcing the hardline stances that have characterized the 2024-2025 period.