By- Qaiser Bashir Makhdoom
*New conventional missile branch aims to unify missile systems and bolsterdeterrence*
ISLAMABAD — On the eve of Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif announced the creation of a new military branch, the ArmyRocket Force, tasked exclusively with overseeing the country’s conventionalmissile capabilities. The move is aimed at streamlining command and controlof non-nuclear missile systems under a single, modernized structure.
Sharif called the force “equipped with modern technology” and a keymilestone in strengthening the Pakistan Army’s combat readiness inconventional warfare. While the prime minister provided few technicaldetails, a senior security official confirmed that the new branch willmanage missile deployment for non-nuclear conflict scenarios — a decisionclearly shaped by tensions with India.
The announcement comes months after the May border clash with India, duringwhich Pakistan’s response exposed gaps in India’s ability to countercertain Pakistani missile systems. Analysts note that missile deployment inPakistan has until now been split between the Army’s artillery corps andthe Strategic Forces Command. Unifying systems such as the Fatah-I,Fatah-II, and Babur cruise missiles under one command will allow faster,more coordinated, and massed conventional missile responses.
Read Top Stories
Pakistan’s Fatah series of guided multiple rocket launchers representssignificant progress in indigenous missile development. The Fatah-I,operational since 2021, has a range of 120–140 kilometers, while the moreadvanced Fatah-II, inducted in 2024, can strike targets up to 400kilometers away with high precision. These systems enhance Pakistan’sability to conduct stand-off, precision strikes deep inside enemy territoryusing conventional warheads.
The creation of a dedicated Army Rocket Force reflects a broader doctrinalshift in Pakistan’s military thinking. Conventional missile capabilitiesare being elevated from a supporting role to a central pillar of nationaldefense. Modeled in part after China’s People’s Liberation Army RocketForce, the new branch underscores Pakistan’s push for integrated, layereddeterrence — enabling calibrated, precise retaliation without immediatelyescalating to nuclear weapons.
While the move strengthens Pakistan’s conventional deterrence posture,sustaining and expanding these capabilities will require overcomingfinancial limitations and continued dependence on foreign technologypartnerships.