India, April 29 -- India's military spending in 2024 was nearly nine times that of Pakistan and the fifth highest in the world in a year that saw global spending on arms register the fastest increase since at least the end of the Cold War, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said in a report published on Monday.

New Delhi's military expenditure grew 1.6% annually to $86.1 billion last year, according to the report. In contrast, Pakistan spent $10.2 billion last year, the report noted. "India. increased its spending. by 42% from 2015," said the report titled "Trends in World Military Expenditure 2024".

Globally, military expenditure reached $2718 billion in 2024, an increase of 9.4% in real terms from 2023 and th...