India’s Strategic Edge: Stability, Superiority, and the Future of Indo-Pakistani Security

By Annika Jain

India and Pakistan share one of the most militarized and politically tense borders in the world, the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. Although it has been the site of ongoing skirmishes and nationalist rhetoric, nuclear deterrence has played a key role in preventing these tensions from erupting into full-scale war. Both countries have maintained a state of cold hostility, but the outcomes and capabilities on either side are not the same. India has emerged as the stronger and more stable power, especially when it comes to economic capacity, global alliances, and the ability to manage conflict.

The LoC has seen regular cross-border fire, infiltration attempts, and sharp diplomatic exchanges since the late 1940s. While India and Pakistan fought three wars between 1947 and 1971, the nuclear tests in 1998 by both countries drastically changed the way military decisions are made. A full-scale war is no longer a rational option, especially because of the catastrophic consequences nuclear weapons would bring. Instead, both countries have shifted toward limited conflicts, proxy tactics, and short-lived escalations.

India’s Economic Superiority: A Strategic Cushion

India’s position is significantly stronger than Pakistan’s. Economically, India is a global powerhouse. Its GDP in 2022 was over $3.35 trillion, making it the fifth-largest economy in the world (World Bank, 2023). India’s export sectors, like pharmaceuticals, IT, and textiles, are tightly woven into global supply chains. In contrast, Pakistan’s economy is struggling. With a GDP of around $375 billion, it’s nearly one-tenth the size of India’s and far more fragile. Pakistan’s economic base is narrow, relying heavily on agriculture and textile exports, and it suffers from persistent debt and low industrial development.

If a nuclear conflict were to break out, the difference would be overwhelming. India would suffer major damage, but it would have the economic resilience and global partnerships to recover over time. Pakistan, on the other hand, would face total devastation. It lacks the fiscal space, infrastructure, and international investment to withstand or recover from a large-scale war. Simply put, a nuclear conflict would erase Pakistan as a functioning state, while India, despite heavy losses, would remain standing.

A Dangerous Pattern: Pakistan’s Latest Military Posturing and Terror Support

As tensions escalate again in 2025, reports indicate a troubling pattern. In March and April 2025, multiple infiltration attempts were thwarted along the LoC, including in Rajouri and Poonch, where Indian security forces neutralized heavily armed militants attempting cross-border attacks (Indian Express, 2025). These militants were later given full state funerals in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, wrapped in national flags and saluted by Pakistani army personnel, a clear signal that Islamabad continues to use terrorists as strategic assets.

Even more concerning is the financial angle. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $1.1 billion bailout tranche to Pakistan in April 2025, claiming to support “economic stability” (IMF, 2025). However, critics and Indian defense analysts have raised alarm over how these funds are being misused. Rather than investing in public services or debt reduction, Pakistan is once again diverting resources into defense procurement and funding irregular warfare. It is a disturbing trend — international donors fund Pakistan’s economy while its military apparatus escalates tensions and supports anti-India operations.

This is not new. In the past, global aid to Pakistan has been used to support militant networks that operate with impunity. Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, officially banned, continue to operate training camps in Pakistan and receive indirect logistical and financial support from state elements. The Pakistani army has refused to dismantle these networks, and recent state honors given to militants confirm what India has argued for decades — terrorism is an extension of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

Global Stakes and India’s Resilience

While Pakistan clings to outdated tactics and proxy conflict, India continues to grow. With investments in education, infrastructure, and defense innovation, India is building strategic depth. Its partnerships with the United States, Japan, the European Union, and Gulf nations continue to strengthen, while its role in the Quad and BRICS ensures global support in times of crisis.

India’s maritime strength and trade integration further reinforce its importance in the international economy. A conflict in South Asia would impact oil shipments, global rice exports, and pharmaceutical supply chains. India’s disruption would affect global markets. Pakistan’s collapse, though tragic, would primarily destabilize itself and a narrow set of partners. That is the strategic reality.

A Disparity That Cannot Be Ignored

India is not only more stable, it is more essential to the world. Its economic size, military capability, and diplomatic network give it the advantage in every aspect of security. Pakistan may provoke, escalate, and play the victim, but it is also the architect of its own instability. The recent military funerals for terrorists and misuse of international aid are proof that Pakistan is not acting in good faith.

The world needs to stop treating India and Pakistan as two sides of the same coin. They are not. One is a rising global power focused on development and deterrence. The other is a financially collapsing state increasingly defined by militancy and mismanagement. India’s restraint is strategic. Its power is real. And its dominance in South Asia is here to stay.

Sources:

• World Bank. (2023). India and Pakistan GDP Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org
  
  

• IMF. (2025, April). IMF Approves $1.1 Billion for Pakistan Under EFF Program. Retrieved from https://www.imf.org
  
  

• Indian Express. (2025, April). LoC Tensions Rise as Pakistan Militants Get Military Funerals.
  
  

• Observer Research Foundation. (2024). State-Sponsored Terrorism and Pakistan’s Double Game.
  
  

• Columbia Climate School. (2020). Even a Limited India-Pakistan Nuclear War Would Bring Global Famine.