India vs. Pakistan Military Match-Ups: Machine Guns

Machine guns have been one of the most important weapons available to infantry units since the First World War. Even in the era of the automatic rifle, the belt-fed firepower of the machine gun is still of critical importance to foot soldiers. This is especially the case in the rough terrain where India and Pakistan do most of their brushfire fighting, as these places are poorly suited to tanks, artillery, and even bombing.

Pakistan
The Pakistani Army uses a mixture of Rheinmetall MG-3s and FN MAGs as medium machine guns. Both use the 7.62 mm NATO round. The MG-3 is a German machine gun that was derived from the World War Two era MG-42. It is one of the world's great medium machine guns, having been in service with few changes since the 1950s. It spits out fire at a blistering 1,150 rounds per minute, and weighs 25 lbs. The MAG is another 1950s design that has withstood the test of time. It was designed in Belgium, and is used by many Western countries, including the United States. It weighs 26 lbs and can fire at a rate between 600 and 1,000 rounds per minute.

For heavy machine guns, the Pakistanis chose the Soviet-made DShK. This 12.7 mm monster weighs 75 lbs and fires at 600 rounds per minute. It was the USSR's answer to the American M-2 .50 caliber machine gun. The DShK was replaced in Soviet service by the NSV during the 1970s.

Paratroopers in Pakistan use the FN Minimi PARA, a short version of the successful light machine gun that can fire 5.56 mm rounds from either belts or 20/30 round M-16 magazines. It weighs 14 lbs.

India
India also uses the popular FN MAG, in the guise of a version made in India under license: the MG 2A1. This machine gun fires the 5.56 mm round at between 850 and 1,150 rounds per minute. Like the Minimi, it draws ammunition from either belts or from a 35 round Galil rifle magazine. It weighs 16 lbs.

Their light machine gun choice is the 1990s era, Israeli-made IMI Negev. It can fire the 5.56 mm round at between 850 and 1,150 rounds per minute, and from either belts or from the Galil's 35 round magazine. The gun weighs 16 lbs.

The Indian Army employs two heavy machine guns. They have a number of U.S.-made M-2 .50 caliber machine guns in their arsenal. This is the classic heavy machine gun, weighing 84 lbs. and with a robust reputation for stamina under pressure. The version used in India can fire at 575 rounds a minute. They also use the Soviet-made NSV, a 55 lbs gun that can shoot 12.7 mm rounds at between 700 and 800 rounds per minute.

Winner: India

What really kills Pakistan is their lack of a true light machine gun in general service. Their paratroopers have the Minimi, but their line infantry make do with more medium machine guns. When a Pakistani platoon meets and Indian platoon, both sides will be well-served by their MAGs, and the Pakistanis by their excellent MG-3s. However, the Indian's will also have their Negevs at the squad level, which means a lot more firepower and with greater mobility to boot.

Furthermore, it needs to be noted that India uses the NSV and the M-2. One is the machine gun that replaced the DShK, and the other is the classic gun the DShK was built to match.
Sources: globalsecurity.com; pakistanarmy.gov.pk; indianarmy.nic.in