List of wars involving Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has been involved in numerous armed conflicts both locally and around the world. The main focus of its military operations have both historically and currently been on neighbouring India—against whom Pakistan has fought four major wars in addition to commonly-recurring border skirmishes and standoffs. The two nations have had a hostile and turbulent relationship since their independence from the United Kingdom and subsequent war over the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in its entirety but have not exercised control over the entire region, which remains divided and contested between the two states by the Line of Control. The Kashmir conflict has seen extensive—albeit unsuccessful—intervention and mediation by the United Nations.
Pakistan has also had a turbulent relationship with neighbouring Afghanistan,[1] characterized by armed border skirmishes and periods of diplomatic tension. The Pakistani government has increased military activity along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border and built a border barrier to crack down on illegal immigration, militancy,[2] and smuggling.[3][4]
Outside of its home region of South Asia, Pakistan has also engaged in international conflicts in the Middle East and Africa as part of larger coalitions, and remains one of the largest contributors of troops to various United Nations peacekeeping missions. The country was designated as a major non-NATO ally by the United States in 2004,[5] and has participated extensively in the American-led war on terror following the 9/11 attacks.
List
- Pakistani victory
- Pakistani defeat
- Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result unknown or indecisive)
- Ongoing conflict
| Conflict | Pakistan and allies |
Opponents | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Indo-Pakistani War (1947–1948)[6][7] |
Ceasefire[11]
| ||
| First Kalat Rebellion (1948)[12][13] |
Victory[13]
| ||
| Waziristan rebellion (1948–1954) |
|
Pakistani victory | |
| Second Kalat Rebellion (1958–1959)[17] |
Victory[18]
| ||
| Dir campaign (1959–1960) |
Supported by: |
Supported by: |
Pakistani/Opposition victory
|
| Bajaur Campaign (1960–1961) |
Pakistani victory
| ||
| 1960s insurgency in Balochistan (1963–1969)[19] |
Supported by: |
Supported by: |
Ceasefire |
| Second Indo-Pakistani War (1965) |
Inconclusive
| ||
| 1971 JVP insurrection (1971) |
|
Supported by: |
Victory
|
| Bangladesh Liberation War (From March 1971) Third Indo-Pakistani War (From Dec 1971) |
Defeat
| ||
| 1976 Dir rebellion (3–10 September 1976) | Pakistani victory
| ||
| Fourth Balochistan Conflict (1973–1978)[23][24] |
Victory[26]
| ||
| Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989) |
Victory[27]
| ||
| Siachen conflict (1984–2003) |
Defeat
| ||
| Malakand insurrection (1994–1995) |
Victory
| ||
| Kargil War (1999) |
Defeat
| ||
| War in North-West Pakistan (2004–2017)[29][30] Drone war (2004–2018) |
Supported by: |
ISIL-aligned groups |
Victory[40]
United States-Allied Victory
|
| Insurgency in Sindh (2003–present) |
|
|
Ongoing (extremely low-level) |
| Insurgency in Balochistan (2004–present)[49] |
Forces involved: Forces involved:
|
Former belligerents:
Former belligerents:
|
Ongoing[63][64] |
| War against the Islamic State (2013–present) |
In multiple regions:
In Iraq In Syria
In Libya
In Afghanistan
In Pakistan In West Africa |
|
Ongoing
|
| 2024 Iran–Pakistan conflict (16–18 January 2024) |
|
De-escalation | |
| 2025 India–Pakistan conflict | Ceasefire[87][88][89] | ||
| 2025 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict | Ceasefire | ||
| 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war | Ongoing[92]
|
See also
- Outline of Pakistan military history
- Pakistan Armed Forces deployments
- Other military conflicts involving Pakistan:
- Kashmir conflict
- 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff
- 2008 Indo-Pakistani standoff
- India–Pakistan border skirmishes (disambiguation)
- Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes
- 2017 Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmish
- 2008–12 Pakistan–United States skirmishes
- Afghanistan–Pakistan clashes (2024–present)
- 2025 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict