On August 14, 2025, during Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day celebrations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command at a grand ceremony in Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium. The event, also marking the “Marka-e-Haq” (Battle for Truth), celebrated Pakistan’s victory over India in a four-day conflict in May 2025.
The announcement of this new military command signals a transformative step in Pakistan’s defense strategy, enhancing its conventional and strategic capabilities to counter regional threats, particularly from India.
Details of the Army Rocket Force Command
The announcement was made amidst a display of national pride, with a military parade featuring the Pakistan Army, Navy, Air Force, Punjab Rangers, Frontier Corps, and Special Service Group (SSG) Commandos, complemented by a flypast of fighter jets and an exhibition of equipment used in the “Marka-e-Haq” at Shakarparian Parade Ground. Attendees included President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, senior civilian and military leaders, and foreign dignitaries from allies such as China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan.
PM Sharif also unveiled a digital memorial for the “Battle for Truth,” highlighting contributions across Army, Air Force, Navy, Cyber, and Space domains, underscoring Pakistan’s multi-domain warfare ambitions.
The Army Rocket Force Command is envisioned as a specialized branch equipped with cutting-edge technology, designed to manage Pakistan’s growing arsenal of guided rockets, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. While specific details about its structure remain limited, it is likely to operate under the National Command Authority (NCA), chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), led by a three-star general, serving as its secretariat. This mirrors the organizational framework of Pakistan’s existing Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which oversees nuclear and conventional missile systems across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) alone employing 12,000–15,000 personnel.
The new command is expected to integrate and expand upon existing missile units, potentially absorbing assets like the Fatah-series Guided Multi-Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), ballistic missiles (e.g., Shaheen-III, Ghauri), and cruise missiles (e.g., Babur, Ra’ad). PM Sharif emphasized its role in enabling Pakistan to “strike from all directions,” suggesting a focus on mobile, precise, and long-range systems capable of targeting enemy infrastructure deep within hostile territory.
The announcement framed the command as a direct response to India’s aggression in the May 2025 conflict, where Sharif stated Pakistan “reduced India’s pride to dust.”
Importance of the Army Rocket Force Command
The establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s military modernization, with far-reaching implications for regional security and global geopolitics:
1. Enhanced Regional Deterrence:
The command strengthens Pakistan’s ability to counter India’s military advancements, particularly its Cold Start Doctrine and Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), which aim for rapid, limited incursions into Pakistani territory. By deploying systems like the Fatah-II, with a 400 km range and high precision, Pakistan can target Indian airbases, radar installations, and logistics hubs, disrupting operational plans before they materialize. This creates a “denial” capability, shrinking the space for conventional conflict below the nuclear threshold.
2. Strategic Balance:
India’s acquisition of advanced systems like the S-400 air defense system and BrahMos cruise missile has shifted the regional balance. The Rocket Force Command counters this by offering cost-effective, domestically produced systems capable of saturating defenses and striking deep targets. Fatah-II’s low radar cross-section and maneuverability make it challenging for even advanced defenses to intercept.
3. Global Defense Market Ambitions:
Pakistan’s showcase of the Fatah-II at the World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia highlighted its growing defense industry. The Rocket Force Command positions Pakistan as a potential exporter of rocket technology, strengthening ties with allies like China, Türkiye, and Middle Eastern nations. This aligns with PM Sharif’s economic vision under the “Charter of Stability,” which has reduced inflation to 5% and interest rates to 11%.
4. National Unity and Morale:
The announcement, tied to the “Marka-e-Haq” narrative, reinforces Pakistan’s resilience and military prowess. By celebrating a swift victory over India and unveiling a high-tech command, the government aims to boost national pride and unity, especially in the context of recent economic recovery and diplomatic successes, such as US President Donald Trump’s role in securing a ceasefire.
5. Doctrinal Evolution:
The command reflects a shift from massed artillery barrages to precision-guided, deep-strike capabilities. This aligns with modern warfare trends, where rapid, high-impact strikes can disrupt enemy operations without escalating to all-out war. It also complements Pakistan’s existing nuclear deterrence, providing a conventional layer to its strategic arsenal.
Intent Behind the Establishment
The creation of the Army Rocket Force Command is driven by multiple strategic objectives:
1. Countering India’s Aggression:
PM Sharif’s speech explicitly linked the command to Pakistan’s response to India’s actions in May 2025, described as a “failed attempt” to undermine Pakistan. The command aims to deter future aggression by enabling precise, long-range strikes that disrupt India’s operational tempo, targeting critical infrastructure like airfields, command centers, and supply lines.
2. Strengthening Deterrence:
By integrating conventional and nuclear-capable systems, the command enhances Pakistan’s deterrence posture. Sharif reiterated that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is defensive, but the Rocket Force Command adds a credible conventional deterrent, reducing reliance on nuclear escalation in limited conflicts. Systems like the Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile ensure a second-strike capability, reinforcing strategic stability.
3. Cost-Effective Modernization:
Unlike expensive air or naval platforms, rocket systems like Fatah-II are relatively affordable, domestically produced, and easier to maintain. This allows Pakistan to modernize its forces without matching India’s platform-for-platform spending, addressing resource constraints while maintaining operational effectiveness.
4. Geopolitical Projection:
The announcement, made in the presence of key allies, signals Pakistan’s growing military and technological prowess. It strengthens strategic partnerships, particularly with China, which may provide technological support given similarities to its People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). The command also positions Pakistan as a regional power capable of influencing outcomes in conflicts like Kashmir and Palestine, as Sharif emphasized.
5. Psychological Warfare:
The ability to conduct deep strikes creates uncertainty for adversaries, forcing them to divert resources to protect rear areas. The “Marka-e-Haq” narrative amplifies this psychological impact, portraying Pakistan as a resilient nation capable of defeating a larger adversary.
Capabilities of the Army Rocket Force Command
The Army Rocket Force Command leverages Pakistan’s existing missile and rocket systems, with the following capabilities:
1. Rocket and Missile Systems:
– Fatah-Series: The Fatah-I (140 km range) and Fatah-II (400 km range) are guided GMLRS with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10–50 meters, using INS/GPS guidance for high precision. Fatah-II can carry high-explosive warheads to target airbases, radar sites, and munitions depots, with a low radar cross-section to evade defenses.
– Ballistic Missiles: The Shaheen-III (2,750 km range), Ghauri, Ghaznavi, Abdali, and Nasr (70 km, tactical nuclear-capable) provide strategic and tactical options for both conventional and nuclear strikes.
– Cruise Missiles: The Babur (ground and submarine-launched, 450–700 km) and Ra’ad (air-launched) offer flexibility across land, sea, and air domains, with stealth features to penetrate defenses.
2. Mobility and Survivability:
The command employs mobile 8×8 tactical vehicles for “shoot-and-scoot” operations, enabling rapid deployment and relocation to avoid counter-battery fire or airstrikes. This enhances survivability against India’s air superiority and reconnaissance capabilities.
3. Precision and Saturation:
The command can execute salvo strikes, combining rockets, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions to overwhelm air defenses like India’s S-400. Fatah-II’s precision allows surgical strikes on high-value targets, while saturation attacks ensure penetration of layered defenses.
4. Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C4I):
The command likely leverages the SPD’s existing C4I infrastructure, ensuring seamless coordination across domains. Integration with Pakistan’s emerging cyber and space capabilities, as highlighted in the “Battle for Truth” memorial, enhances situational awareness and targeting accuracy.
5. Indigenous Production:
Systems like Fatah-II, developed by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), reflect Pakistan’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. This reduces dependence on foreign suppliers like China, though technical collaboration may continue.
6. Operational Reach:
With Shaheen-III’s 2,750 km range and Fatah-II’s 400 km range, the command can target strategic locations across India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and potentially beyond, as speculated in some analyses (e.g., Israel). This extends Pakistan’s strategic footprint.
Strategic and Operational Analysis
1. Strategic Implications:
The Army Rocket Force Command shifts Pakistan’s military doctrine toward proactive, precision-guided strikes, reducing reliance on nuclear escalation for deterrence. It undermines India’s assumptions of rear-area safety, forcing it to bolster air defenses and accelerate programs like BrahMos-II and Pinaka Mk-II. However, this risks escalating the regional arms race, as India may respond with further modernization, potentially destabilizing South Asia.
2. Operational Feasibility:
Integrating existing systems under a unified command is practical, given the SPD’s experience with the SFC. The Fatah-series, already operational, provides a ready foundation, while ballistic and cruise missiles add strategic depth. However, scaling to a large-scale rocket force requires significant investment in production, training, and infrastructure, which could strain Pakistan’s economy despite recent improvements.
3. Regional Dynamics:
The command challenges India’s operational planning by enabling deep strikes that disrupt logistics and command nodes. It also strengthens Pakistan’s position within regional alliances, particularly with China, which may view the command as a counterweight to India’s alignment with the US and Quad. Middle Eastern allies like Saudi Arabia may see Pakistan as a reliable defense partner, boosting export potential.
4. Geopolitical Risks:
The high-profile announcement, tied to a narrative of defeating India, may invite scrutiny from global powers, particularly the US, over missile proliferation concerns. Pakistan must navigate diplomatic channels carefully to avoid sanctions, especially given its emphasis on nuclear deterrence as defensive. Sharif’s acknowledgment of Trump’s ceasefire role suggests an effort to maintain Western goodwill.
5. Challenges and Limitations:
– Economic Constraints: Sustaining a high-tech rocket force requires significant funding, which could compete with domestic priorities despite economic gains (e.g., 5% inflation, 11% interest rates).
– Technological Maturity: While Fatah-II and Shaheen-III are advanced, achieving aspirational goals like a 5,000 km-range rocket force demands breakthroughs in propulsion and guidance systems.
– Cybersecurity: Sharif’s reference to “digital terrorism” highlights the need for robust cybersecurity to protect C4I systems from hacking or disruption, especially given India’s growing cyber capabilities.
– Training and Integration: A new command requires extensive training to ensure interoperability across Army, Navy, and Air Force units, as well as integration with cyber and space domains.
Broader Implications
The Army Rocket Force Command positions Pakistan as a formidable regional player, capable of projecting power through precision and reach. It aligns with PM Sharif’s vision of a “strong, prosperous, and united Pakistan,” leveraging military modernization to complement economic recovery. The command’s emphasis on indigenous systems like Fatah-II underscores Pakistan’s technological progress, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and enhancing strategic autonomy.
However, the command’s establishment risks escalating tensions with India, particularly if perceived as lowering the threshold for conventional conflict. India’s response—potentially accelerating its own missile programs or deepening alliances with the US—could lead to a destabilizing arms race. Pakistan must balance its military ambitions with diplomatic efforts to maintain stability, especially given its reliance on allies like China and Saudi Arabia for economic and technical support.
Globally, the command enhances Pakistan’s stature as a defense exporter and strategic partner, particularly in the Muslim world. Its ability to strike deep targets and integrate multi-domain capabilities (land, sea, air, cyber, space) positions it as a modern, adaptable force. Yet, the command’s success hinges on Pakistan’s ability to sustain investment, counter adversary defenses, and navigate geopolitical pressures.
Conclusion
The Army Rocket Force Command, announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 14, 2025, marks a strategic leap for Pakistan’s military. By consolidating advanced rocket and missile systems under a dedicated command, Pakistan aims to enhance deterrence, counter India’s military edge, and project power regionally and globally.
With systems like Fatah-II and Shaheen-III, the command offers precision, mobility, and multi-domain integration, reflecting Pakistan’s evolving defense doctrine. However, its success depends on overcoming economic, technological, and diplomatic challenges, while managing the risks of regional escalation.
As Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day and “Marka-e-Haq,” the Rocket Force Command symbolizes a bold step toward a stronger, self-reliant future.
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