Latest news with #ArmyRocketForce
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pakistan to create military force to supervise missiles after India conflict
By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan will create a new force in the military to supervise missile combat capabilities in a conventional conflict, apparently a move to match neighbouring arch-rival India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force late Wednesday at a ceremony held in Islamabad to commemorate the conflict with India in May, the worst in decades. The ceremony was held a day ahead of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day. The force "will be equipped with modern technology," Sharif said in a statement from his office. "This force, capable of targeting the enemy from all sides, will prove to be yet another milestone with regard to further strengthening our conventional war capability," he said in a repeat broadcast of his speech on Thursday by local TV news channels. He did not give further details. A senior security official, however, said the force would have its own command in the military which would be dedicated to handling and deployment of missiles in the event of a conventional war. "It is obvious that it is meant for India," he said. In response to a question about the force, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said: "It is (a) well-known modus operandi of Pakistani leadership to whip up anti-India rhetoric time and again to hide their own failures." The two nuclear-armed nations have kept upgrading their military capabilities, fuelling a longstanding rivalry since their independence from British rule in 1947. Tension between the two countries soared in April over the killing of 26 civilians in Indian Kashmir, an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement. The conflict that erupted in May saw both sides using missiles, drones and fighter jets. The neighbours have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which they both rule in part but claim in full.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pakistan to create new missile force after four-day conflict with India
Pakistan is creating a dedicated missile force in the aftermath of a brief military conflict with India earlier this year. Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force on the eve of the Independence Day on Wednesday. "It will be equipped with modern technology," the prime minister said of the new force, which he added would prove to be a milestone in strengthening the combat capabilities of the army. India and Pakistan stepped back from the brink of war in May after a four-day military conflict left dozens of people dead in artillery shelling as well as drone and missile attacks. A Pakistani security official said the force, dedicated to deploying missiles in the event of a conventional war, was proposed to have its own command in the military. Mr Sharif claimed the conflict with India concluded with a decisive victory for Pakistan as he praised the military leaders for their swift response, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. 'India forgot that wars are not won with weapons alone but with the spirit of the nation,' he said. The Pakistani military claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, including the French-made Rafale, during the initial clashes. India also claimed to have downed the rival country's jets in a dogfight that reportedly involved over 125 aircraft, making it the largest aerial battle since the Second World War. US president Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire that ended the conflict after four days, said last month up to five fighter jets had been shot down, without clarifying which country's. India confirmed on 31 May that it had lost jets during the conflict, but refused to clarify their number or nature. While Islamabad acknowledges the US role in the ceasefire, India claims it was agreed between the two militaries. The conflict began when India launched airstrikes on Pakistan, claiming it was punishing the neighbouring country for orchestrating an attack in the restive Himalayan region of Kashmir that left 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, dead in April. Pakistan denied involvement. In his address on Wednesday, the Pakistani prime minister said his country's nuclear arsenal was "not for aggression" but 'only for defence purposes". This appeared to be a pivot from the aggressive statement made by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, about the country's nuclear capabilities. The military leader reportedly told members of the Pakistani diaspora in Florida that Pakistan was "a nuclear nation' and 'if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us". He also warned that if India built a dam on the Indus River, Pakistan would destroy it 'with ten missiles". "We have no shortage of missiles," he added, according to The Print. India on Monday criticised the remarks as 'nuclear sabre-rattling', noting it was 'regrettable' that they were made in the US, a key partner for New Delhi.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Furious Pakistan Hurries to Strengthen Missile Arsenal After Operation Sindoor
/ Aug 14, 2025, 05:03PM IST In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan unveils a new military command to boost its missile arsenal. PM Shehbaz Sharif says the Army Rocket Force will improve the nation's war readiness and conventional strike capabilities, while also acknowledging international support from allies like China and Saudi Arabia.#pakistan #indiapakistan #operationsindoor #armyyrocketforce #shehbazsharif #military #defense #missiles #china #pla #nationalsecurity #militaryupgrade
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Pakistan to create military force to supervise missiles after India conflict
ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Pakistan will create a new force in the military to supervise missile combat capabilities in a conventional conflict, apparently a move to match neighbouring arch-rival India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force late Wednesday at a ceremony held in Islamabad to commemorate the conflict with India in May, the worst in decades. The ceremony was held a day ahead of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day. The force "will be equipped with modern technology," Sharif said in a statement from his office. "This force, capable of targeting the enemy from all sides, will prove to be yet another milestone with regard to further strengthening our conventional war capability," he said later in a speech broadcast on Thursday by local TV news channels. He did not give any further details. A senior security official, however, said that the force would have its own command in the military which will be dedicated to handling and deployment of missiles in any event of a conventional war. "It is obvious that it is meant for India," he said. The two nuclear-armed nations have kept upgrading their military capabilities, fuelling a longstanding rivalry since their independence from British rule in 1947. Tension between the two countries soared in April over the killing of 26 civilians in Indian Kashmir, an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement. A conflict erupted in May that saw both sides using missiles, drones and fighter jets, before it ended with a cease-fire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Pakistan to create new force in military to supervise missiles after India conflict
ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Pakistan will create a new force in the military to supervise missile combat capabilities in a conventional conflict, apparently a move to match the neighbouring arch-rival India. 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. "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 Kashmir, 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 U.S. President Donald Trump. Islamabad acknowledges the U.S. role, but India denies it, saying it was agreed directly between the two militaries.
