Armour vs armour more better then ATGM. ATGM good only if better number of helicopters deployed with advance ATGM to beat modern armour
Yes, armour vs armour is good and yes a tank vs tank skirmish cannot be entirely avoided in war, its bound to happen throughout the war.
Armour is the main offensive weapon and in Pakistan's case, if PA MBT's encounter losses when pitted against Indian MBT's, PA will lose a major offensive capability when its time to make a thrust. This is why its better to engage enemy MBT's with Anti-tank weapons of all sorts and conserve PA MBT's to lead the way for attacks.
If PA armoured divisions start to lose tanks against IA armour early in the war, then PA divisions will go on the defensive for the rest of the war as they will be under strength.
Suppose an Indian tank force attacks, its best to lay out a defensive pattern of ATGM mobile or dug-in teams and Gunships and UCAV's on station and incur heavy losses on IA MBT's and repulse the attack with minimal or no loss to own MBT's. Then depending as situation arises ,use PA MBT's to flank the retreating enemy leading a counter attack. PA MBT's can also start taking out enemy Support arms like Artillery, Air Defence, Engineer, Supply etc which have limited anti-tank capabilities. Its best to exploit weak spots in enemy lines to use MBT.
Indian Cold start doctrine has been made for exactly this purpose:
1. Send in Armour and mechanised brigades deployed near border to engage Pakistan forces and incur maximum losses to Pakistan Army.
2. After a few days when the Indian Strike Corps is mobilised and reaches the border, it can easily sweep the rest of the already battered Pakistan Army and finish whatever fighting capability Pakistan is left with.
So the first strike (brigade level) will engage and exhaust Pakistan Army, the second strike will be three-four times more powerful (Corps level) than the first one and will put Pakistan Army on the defensive for entire war.
Therefore, Pakistan absorbs the first strike, countering IA MBT and IFV/APC with ATGM teams, blunting the Cold start attack. Then before the Indian strike Corps mobilises and reaches the border, Pakistani armoured divisions MBT's would be chasing IA and already crossed into India being on the offensive and dont even allow Indian Strike Corps to enter Pakistan.
India has more more MBT (T-72/T-90/Arjun) than Pakistan plus India has lots of reserve tanks to replace if it loses T-90's and T-72's. There are 1000+ Vijayantas and 500+ T-55 with 105mm guns. Pakistan already has lesser MBT in service than Inda and Pakistan MBT reserve are even lower, 300 M-48 and probably handful of T-55.
If PA MBT reserve is huge and tank losses can be replaced easily with modern tanks then its not an issue. Replace loss of T-80 with a T-80, Replace AK with AK, replace AZ with AZ and keep the momentum going.
