By Admin 
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense for a long time. In recent times, this tension has once again turned into violent clashes. Pakistan fired missiles on Afghan territory last Thursday (9 October 2025), in response to which the Afghan army retaliated in Baharampur area of Pakistan on Saturday (11 October 2025) night. Many Pakistani soldiers were killed in this encounter and Afghan forces captured some posts. The Afghan army has also captured some Pakistani soldiers. This entire incident happened near the Durand Line, which is the main cause of dispute between the two countries.
The Durand Line is an approximately two thousand six hundred and forty kilometer long border, which was created in 1893 during the British rule. Pakistan considers it an international border, but Afghanistan does not accept it. The Afghan side believes that this border artificially divides the Pashtun areas. This is the reason why incidents of conflict and firing occur again and again in this area.
military position of pakistan
According to the Global Firepower 2025 report, Pakistan is the twelfth most powerful army in the world. The country has invested about two and a half percent of its total economy i.e. more than ten billion dollars in defense expenditure. Pakistan has 6,40,000+ trained soldiers, 2627 tanks, 328 fighter aircraft. Pakistani Navy extends to the Arabian Sea. Its help gives it an edge in maritime security. Pakistan’s army is technologically modern and its strategic partnership with China further enhances its power.
Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities
According to reports, Pakistan spends billions of dollars every year on its nuclear program. The country has ballistic missiles with different ranges, which were manufactured with the technical help of China. For this reason, Pakistan also has the capability to launch a second attack i.e. second strike capability, which further strengthens its defense policy.
military situation in afghanistan
Afghanistan’s military capability is quite limited compared to Pakistan. It has been ranked 118th in the list of Global Firepower. After the fall of the US-backed government in 2021, the Taliban took control of the country. The Taliban has retained some old military resources, but it has neither a modern air force nor navy. Most military tactics are based on guerrilla warfare, which proves useful in mountainous areas.
Strengths and limitations of Afghan forces
At present Afghanistan has about eighty thousand active soldiers and 30 thousand paramilitary forces. The country has a limited number of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery. Some old fighter planes and helicopters are also used, but their maintenance is difficult. Lack of missile technology and modern weapons makes its defense capability weak.
Comparison of military power between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Comparing the military power between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the difference is clearly visible. Pakistan has nuclear weapons, modern air force and a large number of trained soldiers, while Afghanistan is dependent on limited resources. Pakistan has allies like China and Türkiye, whereas Afghanistan has no formal allies. The biggest strength of the Afghan side is its geographical position and its long-standing war strategy in the mountainous areas.
Also read: Pakistan kneeled before Taliban, surrendered within 15 minutes, shocking video surfaced