Pakistan announced the formation of a new force, named the Army Rocket Force, equipped with advanced technology to strengthen the country's combat capabilities.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement at an event to mark the 78th Independence Day of Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari, the three services chiefs, and national and foreign dignitaries were also present at the event.
“Equipped with modern technology and capable of targeting the enemy from every direction, this force will prove another milestone in further strengthening our conventional war capabilities,” the PM was quoted as saying.
It is a key milestone in the advancement of the country's military response capability, PM Sharif said while announcing the formation of the Army Rocket Force Command. He, however, has not offered further details about the new force or its responsibilities.
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Media reports suggest that the Army Rocket Force of Pakistan is inspired by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force of China, which controls arsenal of land-based ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missiles of the country.
Dawn quoted defence analyst Talat Masood as saying that after the recent conflict with India, the objective is to "further strengthen Pakistan’s military capability and this is a part of that process."
The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is responsible for organising, manning, training, and equipping China's land-based nuclear and conventional missile forces. It is a massive, highly-modernised force responsible for both China's nuclear deterrence and its potent conventional missile strike capabilities.
