Pakistan will create an Army Rocket Force to strengthen its missile combat capabilities and enhance preparedness for potential conventional conflict. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed the plan late Wednesday during a ceremony in Islamabad commemorating the May 2025 clashes with India, which he described as a turning point for Pakistan’s defense posture.

“This new force will be equipped with modern technology and will be a milestone in strengthening the combat capability of Pakistan’s army,” Sharif said in a statement from his office. He provided no detailed timeline or breakdown of the unit’s composition.

A senior Pakistani security official told reporters the Rocket Force would operate under a distinct command structure within the army, with its mission focused entirely on missile handling, readiness, and deployment. “It is obvious that it is meant for India,” the official said, linking the initiative directly to Pakistan’s regional security rivalry.

Background: Escalation with India

The decision comes just months after one of the deadliest escalations in the region in decades. Tensions spiked in April following the killing of 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir—an attack India blamed on Pakistan, which Islamabad firmly denied.

By May, the situation had erupted into open conflict, with both sides deploying missiles, drones, and fighter jets in sustained exchanges over several days. The clashes marked the most serious fighting since the 1999 Kargil War.

The hostilities ended with a ceasefire announcement attributed by Islamabad to U.S. mediation, with Prime Minister Sharif publicly thanking President Donald Trump for his role. India, however, disputed this version of events, claiming the agreement was reached directly between the two militaries without external involvement.

Regional Security Context

Pakistan and India, both nuclear-armed, have maintained a bitter rivalry since their independence from British rule in 1947, fighting multiple wars and engaging in frequent border skirmishes. Each side continues to modernize its armed forces, with missile technology a key component of their strategic deterrence.

Analysts say the creation of the Army Rocket Force signals Pakistan’s intent to not only match but also potentially outpace India’s growing missile capabilities, particularly in short- to medium-range systems that could be decisive in a conventional conflict.