A New Military Era for Pakistan
On August 13, 2025,
just before Pakistan celebrated its 78th Independence Day, Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a historic announcement. He declared the
creation of the Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC). This new formation
will take charge of Pakistan’s rocket and missile units, giving them
centralized control, faster response times, and a stronger ability to deter
threats from India. Officials explained that the ARFC will be a corps-level
command led by a lieutenant general, reporting directly to the Army
Chief.
Why Pakistan Created the Army Rocket Force Command
The decision followed the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, which involved drones, missiles, and air power. While a fragile ceasefire ended the fighting, the
clashes exposed weaknesses in Pakistan’s conventional missile operations.
Leaders in Islamabad realized that scattered artillery and missile brigades
could not effectively respond to India’s growing missile defenses. By
creating the ARFC, Pakistan now has a centralized missile force modeled
after China’s Rocket Force (PLARF), with the goal of faster, more
accurate strikes.
How the ARFC Will Work
The ARFC is designed to
unify Pakistan’s missile systems and improve warfighting effectiveness. By
integrating drones, radars, and satellites such as PRSS-1,
Pakistan hopes to speed up its “sensor-to-shooter” cycle, allowing targets to
be detected and struck within minutes. Another priority is survivability. Mobile
launchers, decoys, and dispersal tactics will make Pakistan’s missile
systems harder to track and destroy. Importantly, nuclear-capable missiles
will remain under the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), keeping a
clear line between nuclear and conventional weapons.
Pakistan’s Missile Arsenal Under ARFC
The Army Rocket Force
Command will control some of Pakistan’s most advanced conventional
missile systems. The Fatah-II guided rocket system has a range of
around 200 to 290 kilometers and uses satellite and GPS guidance for accuracy.
The Babur cruise missile family, with a range of about 700 kilometers,
is designed to fly at low altitude to avoid radar detection. Reports suggest
new systems like Fatah-IV are in development, while longer-range systems
such as Shaheen-III remain associated with strategic deterrence
and nuclear capabilities rather than daily ARFC operations.
India’s Response to Pakistan’s Rocket Force
India views
the creation of the ARFC as a direct challenge to its military edge. New
Delhi is expected to expand its ballistic missile defenses with
additional S-400 systems and indigenous interceptors. It is also likely
to strengthen counterforce capabilities by using precision weapons such
as the BrahMos missile to target Pakistan’s mobile launchers. At the
same time, India is increasing its use of satellite surveillance
to monitor missile deployments across the border. This competitive cycle points
to a growing arms race in South Asia, centered on precision-guided
weapons.
The Role of China in ARFC Development
China is
playing a critical role in supporting Pakistan’s Rocket Force. Beyond
providing a model for its structure, Beijing is believed to supply missile
guidance technology, space-based targeting data, and AI-driven battle
management systems. This cooperation has deepened since U.S. sanctions
were placed on Pakistan’s missile entities in late 2024. As a result, Islamabad
now relies even more heavily on Beijing for advanced military technology, tying
the ARFC into the broader China-Pakistan defense partnership and
the larger U.S.-China rivalry in the region.
Challenges Facing the Army Rocket Force Command
The creation of the ARFC
also brings serious challenges. Pakistan’s defense budget is around 9 to
10 billion dollars, far smaller than India’s more than 70 billion, raising
questions about how Islamabad can sustain such an expensive high-tech missile
force. Another risk is escalation. Because the ARFC is designed to
launch rapid precision strikes, decision-making times in a crisis will shrink,
making miscalculation more likely. In addition, Pakistan’s growing reliance on Chinese
technology may limit its strategic independence, and the success of the ARFC
depends heavily on satellites like PRSS-1. If these assets are disabled,
the force could lose much of its effectiveness.
Conclusion: The Future of South Asia’s Military Balance
The formation of the Army Rocket Force Command is Pakistan’s most important military reform since it became a nuclear power. By adopting China’s rocket doctrine, Pakistan now has stronger conventional deterrence and greater flexibility to respond to threats without relying only on nuclear weapons. However, the creation of the ARFC also raises the risk of an accelerating arms race with India. While it strengthens Pakistan’s position, it shortens crisis decision-making windows and increases the chance of misinterpretation during future conflicts. The dawn of Pakistan’s Rocket Force marks a new era in South Asia, where regional stability will depend not only on advanced missiles but also on wise leadership and responsible decision-making.
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