Pakistan Announces Formation of Army Rocket Force Command to Strengthen Defence Capabilities

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command to enhance Pakistan’s military strength, following the country’s recent conflict with India.

The announcement came during a grand ceremony late Wednesday night at Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium, marking Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day and the Marka-i-Haq celebrations, the state’s term for the recent military confrontation with India.

“Equipped with modern technology and capable of striking the enemy from every direction, this force will be a milestone in strengthening our traditional warfare capabilities,” PM Shehbaz said. He noted that the new command is part of broader efforts to boost defense following the April 22 Pahalgam attack incident, which led to hostilities until a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

Pakistan deployed advanced missile systems, J-10C Vigorous Dragon, and JF-17 Thunder fighter jets during the conflict. Defense analyst and retired general Talat Masood said the move aims to further consolidate Pakistan’s deterrence and operational strength.

The ceremony was attended by senior civilian and military leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, and diplomats. The event featured military parades, aerial displays by the Pakistan Air Force Falcons, and participation from Turkish and Azerbaijani military personnel.

PM Shehbaz declared the post-conflict period as the “birth of a new Pakistan” and credited COAS Munir’s strategy for securing a “decisive victory within three to four days.” He unveiled a digital model of the Marka-i-Haq Monument and paid tribute to Pakistan’s nuclear pioneers, including former president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, and then-PM Nawaz Sharif, for making Pakistan the world’s seventh nuclear power.

“Our nuclear arsenal is solely for defense, not aggression,” he stressed, urging all political parties to join a proposed ‘Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan’ (Charter for Pakistan’s Stability) to demonstrate unity on national security.

The recent clash with India erupted after New Delhi accused Islamabad of links to the Pahalgam attack, a charge Pakistan strongly rejected. India’s May 6–7 air strikes killed at least 40 civilians, prompting missile exchanges before both nations agreed to halt hostilities.