India vs. Pakistan Military Match-Ups: Personal Weapons

As neighbors and rivals with disputed borders, India and Pakistan have engaged in several small border conflicts that did not escalate into full-scale war. This has been especially true lately, with the 1984 Siachen Conflict and the 1999 Kargil War. Conflicts like this are often decided by grunt infantry with a little support from heavier weapons, making small arms and the training to use them critically important.

India
The standard rifle of the Indian Army is the INSAS Rifle. This weapon is basically a 5.56mm copy of the venerable and proven Kalashnikov, but incorporating ideas drawn from other rifles such as the Israeli Galil (also basked on the Kalashnikov) , the FN FNC, and the H&K G3. The rifle version of the weapon comes with a selector that allows semi-automatic or 3 round burst fire, while the heavier LMG version allows for fully automatic fire. The rifle had some reliability problems due to the extreme cold of the Himalaya in the 1999 Kargil War, but these have since been corrected. It weighs 4.25 kg, and uses 20 or 30 round box magazines.

The sub-machine gun in general use with the Indian Army is the SAF Carbine, which for all intents and purposes is a copy of the 1950s era Sterling 9mm. The Sterling is, in turn, an improvement on the WW2 era Sten Gun. It weighs 2.4 kg, and uses a 34 round box magazine.

The standard handgun is the SAF 1 9mm, which is a copy of a Canadian Inglis pistol.

Pakistan
The standard rifle of the Pakistani Army is the H&K G3 7.62mm. This classic German weapon is a veteran of the 1950s, and it's roller-delayed blowback system has given it a justifiable reputation for reliability and accuracy. It has semi-automatic and fully automatic modes, a rate of fire of 500 rpm in the latter, and a 20 round box magazine. It weighs 4.4 lbs.

The standard sub-machine gun is the famous H&K MP5 9mm. Using the same roller-delayed blowback action, this weapon took the world by storm and is now a favorite with infantry, special forces, and police agencies around the world. It weighs 2.5 kg, uses 15 or 30 round box magazines, and fires at 700 rpm at full auto. they use both German-made guns as well as locally manufactured copies.

RESULT: INDIA
The truth of the matter is that which of these armies has the better firearms is very dependent on how well-trained their soldiers are to use them The Pakistan H&K weapons have the better reputation, and the G3 is certainly a more accurate rifle as the INSAS and at least as reliable. However, that only matters if the typical Pakistani infantryman is a well-trained shooter. Given that both armies are reliant on conscripts, whose efficiency is always suspect, the INSAS is likely better suited to its user. It lighter 5.56mm round means its troops can carry and shoot more of them, partly making up for the fact that they aren't great marksmen.

Sources: www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk; indianarmy.nic.in; globalsecurity.org