Next War: India-Pakistan

About this board game

Next War: India-Pakistan is a two-player, near-future wargame of conflict between India and Pakistan, with games lasting about 480 minutes. Set around Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab district, it examines a potential war across a strategically vital section of the Indo-Pakistani border.

The map stretches from the Great Indian Desert to just inside the Himalayas, with each hex representing roughly 7.5 miles. Ground units represent brigades, support units, and divisions, while air units represent fighter, bomber, and attack squadrons from India, Pakistan, China, and the United States.

Each game turn covers approximately 3.5 days and may include weather determination, initiative, air operations, special operations, strikes, movement and combat, reinforcements, replacements, and victory determination. Weather can hinder air missions and slow ground operations, while initiative affects movement and combat opportunities.

• Standard Game: A comparatively straightforward rules set for experienced wargamers and quicker scenarios.
• Advanced Game: Adds greater control over airpower, special operations, air strikes, cruise missiles, artillery, and tactical nuclear strikes.
• International intervention: China and the United States may enter the conflict, with their involvement shaped by the International Posture Matrix.
• Detailed combat: Battles consider attack and defense strengths, unit efficiency, and terrain, with attritional results reflecting modern warfare.

Several scenarios offer limited objectives or campaign situations, with different starting conditions, aggressors, victory goals, and levels of Chinese and United States intervention. The nuclear rules add a dangerous strategic choice: tactical nuclear weapons may become available, but their use could drive international allies from the theater.

With its Standard and Advanced formats, Next War: India-Pakistan ranges from accessible scenarios for experienced wargamers to a large campaign experience with optional rules.