Pakistan to create new force in military to supervise missiles
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force late Wednesday at a ceremony held in Islamabad to commemorate the worst conflict in decades with India in May.
The ceremony was held a day ahead of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day.
'It will be equipped with modern technology,' Sharif said in a statement from his office, adding that the force will prove to be a milestone in strengthening the combat capability of Pakistan's army.
He did not give any further details.
A senior security official, however, said that the force will have its own command in the military which will be dedicated to handling and deployment of missiles in any event of a conventional war.
PM Shehbaz Sharif attends flag hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Monument in Islamabad
'It is obvious that it is meant for India,' he said.
The two nuclear-armed nations keep upgrading their military capabilities in the wake of a longstanding rivalry since their independence from British rule in 1947.
The latest tension between the two countries soared in April over the killing of 26 civilians in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement.
A conflict then erupted in May, the most serious fighting between the two countries in decades, which saw both sides using missiles, drones and fighter jets before it ended with a cease-fire announcement by US President Donald Trump.
Islamabad acknowledges the US role, but India denies it, saying it was agreed directly between the two militaries.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM inaugurates Chinese-led Special Economic Zone, welcomes $100m investment
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets the delegation of Chinese garments group, Challenge Fashion Private Limited, in Islamabad on August 15, 2025. Photo: Radio Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the Challenge Group Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and welcomed a $100 million investment by the Chinese garments giant, Challenge Fashion Private Limited, aimed at boosting Pakistan's textile exports and industrial capacity, Radio Pakistan reported. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Chinese group, led by Chairman Huwang Weiguo, he expressed Pakistan's commitment to elevating its strategic and economic partnership with China to greater heights. 'Pakistan and China enjoy a time-tested friendship that has stood resilient through every challenge,' PM Shehbaz said. 'We are pleased to see our economic relations grow stronger, and we welcome more Chinese industries to set up operations in Pakistan,' he added. Also Read: Torrential rains claim 146 lives in K-P, five die in rescue helicopter crash Sharif lauded the Chinese firm's continued confidence in the Pakistani market, noting that Challenge Fashion Group has already invested $17 million in the country since 2014. The new Special Economic Zone, he said, will serve as a model for sustainable industrial development, facilitating technology transfer, skill enhancement, and job creation. He directed relevant authorities to extend all necessary support to ensure the swift operationalisation of the SEZ and reaffirmed the government's focus on advancing the industrial dimension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The PM also highlighted Pakistan's keen interest in learning from China's expertise in the textile sector and announced that a China-Pakistan Business-to-Business Conference would soon be held in China to encourage private sector collaboration. Briefing the premier, the Challenge Group delegation shared that the $100 million investment over the next five years is expected to generate textile exports worth $400 million. Chairman Weiguo thanked the PM for the warm reception and hospitality, saying the group was committed to deepening its engagement with Pakistan's growing textile sector.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Global LNG: Asian spot LNG prices ease as markets eye Trump-Putin meeting
LONDON: Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices declined this week on soft demand and strong storage inventories and as markets awaited the outcome of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin later today. The average LNG price for September delivery into north-east Asia was at $11.65 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), down from $11.90/mmBtu last week, industry sources estimated. The contract for October delivery was estimated at $11.45/mmBtu. 'This (meeting) may not only be decisive for Ukraine but also for the fate of Russian sanctions and economic development between the two nations. It may not be surprising if Russia would open discussion on Arctic LNG 2, as it's clearest link to LNG markets,' said Klaas Dozeman, market analyst at Brainchild Commodity Intelligence. Sanctioned by the United States, Russia's 19.8 million tons per annum (mtpa) Arctic LNG 2 terminal has had two of its threetrains installed and could quickly add to global supply if sanctions were loosened. Conversely, Russia's Yamal and Sakhalin LNG export terminals export about 30 mtpa and could be subject to future sanctions if those were bolstered, said Martin Senior, head of LNG pricing at Argus. Global LNG: Asian spot prices inch up on geopolitical, supply concerns Geopolitics remain the wild card, said Arturo Regalado, senior LNG analyst at Kpler. 'A lack of progress could reignite concerns over tighter sanctions on Russian energy, as well as potential secondary U.S. tariffs on Russian oil and gas buyers,' he said. While the weather has turned a slightly hotter again in Asia it has not attracted major spot purchases - partly due to the pressure on oil prices - which meant oil-indexed long term LNG contracts became competitive against spot purchases, Dozeman said. Argus' Senior said that some Chinese demand has emerged, with Beijing Gas buying two cargoes below $12/mmBtu. The firm last year said that it viewed $12/mmBtu and above as too expensive for LNG imports. Prices are seen lower next week as high Chinese inventories continue to keep north-east Asian spot demand soft, with stable Pacific supply and seasonal temperatures adding to the bearish tone, said Kpler's Regalado. In Europe, gas prices at the Dutch TTF hub were trading in a narrow range on Friday with heatwave across the continent was starting to ease and as markets focused on the Trump-Putin meeting. S&P Global Commodity Insights assessed its daily North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) price benchmark for cargoes delivered in September on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $10.582/mmBtu on August 14, a $0.415 /mmBtu discount to the September futures price at the TTF hub. Argus assessed the price at $10.540/mmBtu, while Spark Commodities assessed it at $10.534/mmBtu The U.S. arbitrage to north-east Asia via the Cape of Good Hope is still incentivising U.S. cargos to deliver to Europe. Similarly, the arbitrage via Panama is pointing to Europe, said Spark Commodities analyst Qasim Afghan. Global LNG freight rates remained relatively steady, with the Atlantic rates assessed at $36,000/day and Pacific rates at $33,250/day, Afghan added.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz launches Chinese textile group's economic zone, expecting $400m in exports
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched on Friday a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be set up by a Chinese textile group, with a $100 million investment over five years, projected to yield $400 million in exports. The SEZ will be established by the Chinese garments group Challenge Fashion Private Limited that has already invested $17 million in Pakistan since 2014. The prime minister directed to provide all possible facilities to Challenge Group for the zone, reiterating that his government was committed to promoting the industrial component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and benefiting from China's progress and expertise in the textile sector. Chinese textile group keen to develop textile factory: minister Highlighting the time-tested Pakistan-China friendship, Prime Minister Shehbaz said his government desired to take the bilateral ties to new heights as the economic relations between the two countries were a source of great satisfaction. He said Pakistan desired the Chinese industries to establish their units in Pakistan and also appreciated the confidence of Challenge Fashion Group in the Pakistani market. The prime minister told the delegation that a China-Pakistan Business-to-Business Conference would soon be held in China, providing an opportunity for collaboration between private businesses of both countries. Meanwhile, Challenge Fashion Group chairman Huwang Weiguo said his company was establishing a modern textile industry in Pakistan. He said the company would invest $100 million in th SEZ over the next five years and expected to generate $400 million in exports. The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Jam Kamal, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervez Malik, and Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and relevant senior government officials.
