Pakistan to launch new army rocket force after India clashes
Pakistan has unveiled a new specialized military branch — the Army Rocket Force — tasked with managing and deploying missile systems during conventional warfare.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally announced the creation of the unit on August 13 at a ceremony in Islamabad, timed to coincide with the anniversary of one of the most intense military confrontations between the two countries in decades. The declaration came just one day before Pakistan marked its 78th Independence Day.
“This will be a highly sophisticated and technologically advanced force,” Sharif said, calling its establishment a “milestone” in strengthening the Pakistan Army’s operational readiness. He stressed that the new formation is part of a broader push to modernize Pakistan’s defense infrastructure in light of evolving regional threats.
A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the Rocket Force will operate under direct military command and have exclusive authority over missile deployment in the event of conventional hostilities. “It is obvious that this is intended as a counterbalance to India,” the official remarked, underscoring the strategic nature of the announcement.
The decision follows decades of simmering hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, whose relationship has been defined by territorial disputes, especially over the contested Kashmir region. Since gaining independence in 1947, both countries have fought multiple wars and engaged in repeated cross-border skirmishes, all while steadily advancing their military capabilities.
Tensions escalated sharply earlier this year. In April, 26 civilians were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir in an attack that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants — an allegation Islamabad strongly denied. The situation worsened in May when the two sides engaged in their most serious military exchange in years, involving not only cross-border shelling but also the use of missiles, drones, and fighter jets. A ceasefire was eventually brokered, reportedly with the mediation of then–US President Donald Trump.
Military analysts say the establishment of the Army Rocket Force signals Islamabad’s intent to strengthen deterrence by expanding its precision-strike options. The move mirrors similar developments in China and India, both of which have invested heavily in dedicated missile commands to improve rapid-response capabilities in potential high-intensity conflicts.
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