Pakistan to create Army Rocket Force after Op Sindoor setback
"It will be equipped with modern technology," Sharif said, according to a statement from Islamabad. He added that the force will prove to be a milestone in strengthening the combat capability of Pakistan's army.Sharif, however, did not provide any further details.PAK'S NEW MISSILE COMMAND, MODELLED AFTER CHINA'S IS 'MEANT FOR INDIA'A senior Pakistani security official told news agency Reuters that the new force will house a dedicated command, which will be exclusive to the handling and deployment of missiles in any event of a conventional war."It is obvious that it is meant for India," he said.Pakistan's Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) will be "modelled explicitly after China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF)", noted Group Captain MJ Augustine (retired) in his report in the Eurasian Times.The PLARF, previously known as the Second Artillery Corps, serves as China's strategic and tactical missile force. As the fourth branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PLARF manages China's land-based missile arsenal, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, both nuclear and conventional.Group Captain MJ Augustine (retired) explained how Pakistan's new force being modelled after the one in China, also strengthens the Islamabad-Beijing axis. During Operation Sindoor, China provided Pakistan with real-time intelligence, satellite surveillance, and advanced military hardware. This collaboration, including the use of Chinese-supplied J-10 aircraft and AI-driven systems like CENTAIC, revealed the deep strategic nexus, with China using Pakistan as a testing ground for its military technology.advertisementAt the regional level, the ARFC reinforces the China-Pakistan alliance, often referred to as an "all-weather friendship". Modelled after China's PLARF, which oversees the country's extensive missile arsenal for both conventional and nuclear purposes, Pakistan's force gains from Chinese technology transfers, according to the veteran.HOW INDIA HAD AN EDGE OVER PAKISTAN IN OPERATION SINDOORDuring Operation Sindoor, India demonstrated a decisive advantage over Pakistan in both missile interception and offensive air power.Indian defence systems proved highly effective in neutralising incoming threats, intercepting Pakistani missiles with precision and minimising potential damage. A night before the ceasefire, India intercepted and shot down Pakistan's Fatah-1 missile over Haryana's Sirsa. Its debris were found near Khaja Khera village.At the same time, the Indian Air Force launched a fierce and coordinated assault, striking multiple high-value and sensitive targets deep within Pakistani territory. These included PAF's Nur Khan airbase, key communication hubs, and strategic infrastructure, disrupting Pakistan's operational capabilities.The combination of technological superiority, advanced missile defence systems, and aggressive aerial tactics left Pakistan struggling to mount an effective counteroffensive.Rattled by this, Pakistan has seemingly responded by creating its new military unit – the Army Rocket Force.- Ends
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