Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan maintains a carefully calibrated neutrality in the Iran–Israel conflict, balancing its historically close ties to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states with a shared border and cultural connections with Iran. Islamabad has avoided direct involvement but faces pressure from both blocs, particularly given its nuclear status and the world's sixth-largest standing military. Pakistan conducted retaliatory strikes inside Iranian Balochistan in January 2024 after Iran struck Jaish al-Adl targets in Pakistani territory, demonstrating its willingness to defend sovereignty.
Ballistic Missiles
| Name | Type | Range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen-III | Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) | 2750 km | Operational since 2015, solid-fuelled, road-mobile |
| Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) | Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) | 1500 km | Operational, nuclear-capable, solid-fuelled |
| Shaheen-1A (Hatf-IV) | Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) | 900 km | Operational, improved guidance over Shaheen-1 |
| Ababeel | MRBM with MIRV capability | 2200 km | Tested January 2017, development ongoing, designed to penetrate BMD |
| Ghaznavi (Hatf-III) | Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) | 290 km | Operational, solid-fuelled, nuclear-capable |
| Nasr (Hatf-IX) | Tactical nuclear-capable SRBM | 70 km | Operational, battlefield nuclear deterrent, quad-launcher |
| Ghauri (Hatf-V) | Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) | 1300 km | Operational, liquid-fuelled, nuclear-capable, being phased for Shaheen series |
Cruise Missiles
| Name | Type | Range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babur-3 (SLCM) | Submarine-launched cruise missile | 450 km | Tested from underwater platform 2017, completing second-strike triad |
| Babur-1A (Hatf-VII) | Ground-launched cruise missile | 700 km | Operational, terrain-hugging, nuclear-capable, road-mobile TEL |
| Babur-2 | Enhanced ground-launched cruise missile | 700 km | Operational, improved guidance and stealth profile over Babur-1 |
| Ra'ad-II (Hatf-VIII) | Air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) | 600 km | Operational, nuclear-capable, launched from Mirage III/V and JF-17 |
Drones & UAVs
| Name | Type | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burraq | Armed UCAV | Strike and ISR, fires Barq laser-guided missile | Operational, combat-proven in FATA counterterrorism operations |
| Shahpar-II | MALE UAV | Tactical ISR and surveillance, 12-hour endurance | Operational with Pakistan Army and Air Force |
| NESCOM Uqaab | Tactical UAV | Artillery targeting, real-time battlefield surveillance | Operational, deployed along LoC and western border |
| CASC CH-4 | MALE UCAV (Chinese origin) | Armed reconnaissance and precision strike | Reportedly acquired, enhances beyond-visual-range strike capacity |
Air Defense Systems
| System | Type | Range | Origin | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ-9/P (FD-2000) | Long-range SAM | 125 km | China | Estimated 6–9 batteries |
| LY-80 (HQ-16 export) | Medium-range SAM | 40 km | China | Estimated 8+ batteries |
| Spada 2000 | Short/medium-range SAM | 25 km | Italy | Estimated 6 batteries |
| FM-90 (Crotale derivative) | Short-range point defence SAM | 15 km | China | Multiple batteries |
| RBS-70 / Anza series | MANPADS / VSHORAD | 6 km | Sweden / Pakistan domestic | Thousands deployed across all commands |
Air Defense Assessment
Pakistan's integrated air defence network is centred on Chinese-supplied systems, with the HQ-9/P providing strategic coverage over key cities and nuclear installations. The layered architecture covers short-to-long range but lacks the density and sensor fusion of NATO-standard IADS. Pakistan has prioritised protecting its nuclear deterrent infrastructure over comprehensive territorial coverage, leaving gaps in peripheral border regions.
Strike Aircraft
| Aircraft | Type | Quantity | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| JF-17 Thunder Block III | Multirole fighter | 138+ (all blocks combined) | Air superiority, precision strike, anti-ship with CM-400AKG |
| F-16C/D Block 52+ | Multirole fighter | ~75 (mix of A/B and C/D) | Precision strike, nuclear delivery platform, BVR air combat |
| Mirage III/V ROSE | Strike / nuclear delivery | ~80 (declining) | Nuclear strike (Ra'ad ALCM carrier), ground attack |
| J-10CE | 4.5-gen multirole fighter | 25 (initial batch, more ordered) | Air superiority, PL-15 BVR capability, replacing Mirage fleet |
| ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle | AEW&C | 4 | Airborne early warning, battle management |
Naval Assets
Pakistan Navy operates 9 submarines including 3 Agosta-90B class (one with AIP propulsion), capable of launching Babur-3 SLCMs for second-strike capability. The surface fleet includes 4 Type 054A/P frigates acquired from China with HQ-16 SAMs and anti-ship cruise missiles, plus 4 older F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigates. Pakistan's anti-ship capability relies heavily on the C-802/CM-302 family and the indigenous Harbah naval cruise missile, providing meaningful anti-access capability in the northern Arabian Sea.
Key Facilities
Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL)
Nuclear enrichment / missile R&D — Kahuta, Punjab
Primary uranium enrichment facility using gas centrifuges, birthplace of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme and Ghauri missile series under A.Q. Khan.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah
Weapons manufacturing complex — Wah Cantt, Punjab
Largest defence production complex in Pakistan — manufactures conventional munitions, small arms, explosives, and missile components across 14 factories.
National Defence Complex (NDC)
Missile production / solid-fuel plant — Fateh Jang, Punjab
Produces Shaheen-series solid-fuelled ballistic missiles and Babur cruise missiles. Houses large solid-propellant mixing and casting facilities.
Khushab Nuclear Complex
Plutonium production reactors — Khushab, Punjab
Four heavy-water reactors producing weapons-grade plutonium for miniaturised warheads. Satellite imagery confirms continuous expansion through 2025.
Kamra Aviation Complex (PAC)
Aircraft manufacturing / overhaul — Kamra, Punjab
Produces JF-17 Thunder fighters jointly with Chengdu, overhauls F-16s and Mirages. Critical for sustaining PAF combat fleet readiness.
Masroor Air Base (PAF Base Masroor)
Major air base / maritime patrol — Karachi, Sindh
Pakistan's largest air base by area, hosts maritime strike aircraft and provides air coverage over the Arabian Sea approaches and Karachi port.
Intelligence Agencies
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
Primary external intelligence agency; manages covert operations, counter-intelligence, and liaison with foreign services. Historically significant influence in Afghanistan and regional proxy networks.
Military Intelligence (MI)
Army-focused intelligence directorate handling tactical military intelligence, internal security assessments, and counter-insurgency operations along the western border.
Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Domestic civilian intelligence agency responsible for internal security monitoring, counter-terrorism intelligence, and political intelligence under the Prime Minister's office.
Proxy Network
Pakistan does not operate proxy militias in the Iran–Israel conflict theatre. Historically, ISI maintained relationships with non-state groups in Afghanistan (Taliban) and Kashmir (Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed), though Islamabad has officially disavowed support since the 2019 Pulwama crisis. Pakistani Shia volunteers have joined Iranian-linked groups in Syria in small numbers, but without state sponsorship. Pakistan's border with Iran remains a flashpoint for Baloch separatist groups (Jaish al-Adl), which both states target independently.
Nuclear Status
Status: NUCLEAR_POWER
Pakistan possesses an estimated 170 nuclear warheads as of 2025 (SIPRI/FAS estimates), making it the world's fifth-largest nuclear arsenal. The programme spans highly-enriched uranium weapons from Kahuta and plutonium devices from Khushab, with ongoing miniaturisation for tactical delivery via Nasr SRBMs. Pakistan maintains a credible triad across land-based missiles (Shaheen series), air-delivered weapons (F-16, Mirage + Ra'ad ALCM), and sea-based platforms (Babur-3 SLCM from Agosta submarines).
Combat Record
In January 2024, Pakistan conducted 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' — retaliatory precision strikes using armed drones, rockets, and standoff weapons against Baloch separatist targets inside Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, responding to Iranian strikes on Pakistani soil days earlier. This was the first cross-border military exchange between the two nations in decades and demonstrated Pakistan's willingness to project force across the Iranian border. Pakistan has not directly engaged in the broader Iran–Israel conflict but has provided diplomatic support to neither bloc, maintaining its non-aligned posture. Its military remains focused on the Indian border (eastern front) and counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Strategic Assessment
Threat Level: LOW
Outlook
Pakistan is unlikely to become directly involved in the Iran–Israel conflict, maintaining strategic ambiguity to preserve ties with both Gulf Arab allies and Iran. Its primary military focus remains India-centric deterrence. However, the January 2024 cross-border exchange with Iran demonstrated that border tensions could escalate rapidly. Pakistan's ongoing military modernisation — particularly the J-10CE acquisition, Chinese submarine programme, and Ababeel MIRV development — is oriented toward strategic parity with India rather than Middle Eastern power projection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nuclear weapons does Pakistan have?
Pakistan possesses approximately 170 nuclear warheads as of 2025, according to SIPRI and FAS estimates. The arsenal includes both uranium-based and plutonium-based designs, deliverable via the Shaheen ballistic missile series, Ra'ad air-launched cruise missiles, and Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missiles, forming a functional nuclear triad.
Is Pakistan involved in the Iran–Israel conflict?
Pakistan has maintained official neutrality in the Iran–Israel conflict and has not provided direct military support to either side. However, Islamabad conducted retaliatory strikes inside Iran in January 2024 after Iranian missiles hit Pakistani territory, demonstrating that bilateral tensions can escalate independently of the broader regional conflict.
What is Pakistan's most advanced missile?
The Ababeel MRBM, first tested in January 2017, is Pakistan's most technologically advanced missile with MIRV (Multiple Independently-targetable Re-entry Vehicle) capability and a range of 2,200 km. The Shaheen-III, with a range of 2,750 km, is the longest-range operational missile in Pakistan's arsenal.
Does Pakistan have a missile defence system?
Pakistan relies on Chinese-supplied air defence systems including the HQ-9/P (FD-2000) with a 125 km engagement range and the LY-80 medium-range SAM. Pakistan does not possess a dedicated ballistic missile defence system comparable to Israel's Arrow or the US THAAD, instead relying on nuclear deterrence as its primary strategic shield.
What fighter jets does the Pakistan Air Force operate?
The PAF operates approximately 75 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighters, 138+ JF-17 Thunder multirole jets (co-produced with China), and 25 newly-acquired J-10CE 4.5-generation fighters. The aging Mirage III/V fleet is being retired as JF-17 Block III and additional J-10CE deliveries continue through 2027.