ISLAMABAD: Right now, the people of Pakistan are united in their pride for the armed forces, especially the air force. Even some of the harshest critics of military spending now acknowledge the importance of a strong defence budget in the face of a hostile neighbour. However, amid the rising nationalism, it’s essential to ask a more difficult question: who actually benefits from war?
It’s certainly not the civilians, who live in fear, lose their livelihoods, and grieve the loss of loved ones. Nor is it the countries, which drain billions from their economies to support ever-expanding military forces. The true beneficiaries are often the global arms manufacturers whose profits soar as tensions rise.
India’s High Defence Spending vs Pakistan’s Strategic Efficiency
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 1956 and 2024, India spent a staggering $1.4 trillion on its military, compared to Pakistan’s $348 billion in the same period. India ranks among the top five military spenders globally. Yet, Pakistan has consistently shown that effective strategy and tactical strength can outperform raw spending. It’s a lesson in doing more with less, a reflection of smart resource management rather than a race in numbers.
Rising Arms Trade and the Human Cost of Conflict
In 2024, global military spending reached a record $2.72 trillion — a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the sharpest annual rise since the Cold War. This marks the 10th consecutive year of rising global defence budgets. Meanwhile, arms and military service sales by the world’s top 100 defence companies hit $632 billion in 2023, growing 4.2% over the previous year.
SIPRI also reported that many arms manufacturers are expanding their workforce, preparing to meet growing demand, and banking on continued conflict for future sales. While governments cut funding from health, education, and public welfare to maintain defence priorities, the social cost is becoming impossible to ignore — visible in malnourished children, illiteracy, and deepening poverty.
The bitter truth is that war enriches a few while devastating millions. The only truly rational path forward, regardless of external provocations or war hysteria, is de-escalation and peace.
