Pakistan Increases Defense Spending by 18% Amid Regional Turmoil
Pakistan's government has proposed an 18% hike in defense spending to 3 trillion rupees ($10.8 billion), citing regional uncertainty and evolving military threats.
The Pakistani government last week presented a draft budget to lawmakers that raises defense spending by 18% to 3 trillion rupees (about $10.8 billion). Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the increase aims to make the country "invincible due to the uncertainty in the region."
Analysts point to evolving military technologies and emerging threats as key drivers. Islamabad-based defense analyst Maria Sultan noted that future conflicts will no longer be limited to two adversaries but will be shaped by weapons and technology from multiple countries, spanning land, air, cyber and electronic domains simultaneously.
The changing security environment has been influenced by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as last year's India-Pakistan conflict following the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed at least 26 tourists. India blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, designated a terrorist organization by the UN, while Pakistan denied involvement. The clashes raised concerns about strategic stability in South Asia and the limits of nuclear deterrence.
Qamar Cheema, executive director of the Sanober Institute, said the conflict demonstrated that atomic weapons do not necessarily prevent conventional conflict below the nuclear threshold.
Pakistan also faces a conflict with neighboring Afghanistan. In February, Islamabad declared it was in "open war" with Kabul after a rise in militant attacks on civilians and security forces in Pakistan's western provinces. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of failing to prevent such attacks from its territory; Kabul rejects the claims.
The defense spending boost comes as Pakistan continues to meet conditions of a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program that helped avoid default. The government aims to shift from stabilization to growth through tax reforms and other measures. The IMF held pre-budget consultations focusing on fiscal framework and revenue assumptions.
Pakistan's economy is about $452 billion, while India's is roughly $4.15 trillion. India's defense budget is estimated at around $86 billion – nearly eight times Pakistan's. Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry acknowledged the gap, noting that Pakistan maintains a military budget that is "a fraction" of India's.
Columnist Khurram Husain said Pakistan has historically prioritized defense even during economic stress, and the IMF understands that ground realities. Political economist Farrukh Saleem warned that development priorities could come under pressure if provinces bear more of the fiscal burden.
Pakistani lawmakers are expected to vote on the defense spending hike later this month, before the next fiscal year starts on July 1.
