Pakistan’s army has begun the process of raising a dedicated Rocket Force Command to strengthen its long-range strike capabilities, following setbacks suffered during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, according to a CNN-News18 report citing intelligence sources.
The proposal for the new force was approved at a recent Corps Commanders’ Conference, chaired by Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces, General Asim Munir, with formalisation expected in the coming months.
The Rocket Force was discussed by the military leadership as early as December, pitched as a high-tech formation aimed at improving missile-based deterrence and strike capacity after operational losses during Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan’s proposed Rocket Force Command is being modelled broadly on China’s Rocket Force, which was established on December 31, 2015, as part of President Xi Jinping’s sweeping military reforms aimed at transforming China into a leading global military power.
China’s Rocket Force is responsible for managing the country’s land-based nuclear and conventional missile arsenal and has been projected by Beijing as a key pillar of its strategic deterrence.
According to reports, Pakistan’s Rocket Force Command is expected to function along similar lines, focusing on strengthening long-range strike and missile capabilities. The command is likely to be headed by a senior Pakistani Army officer of the rank of lieutenant general (three-star) or major general (two-star).
The move comes in the aftermath of India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The Indian operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to respond with drones, loitering munitions, fighter aircraft, and missile launches under what it termed ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos’.
Pakistan’s military leadership has reportedly framed the new Rocket Force as a technologically advanced formation, intended to address gaps exposed during the recent escalation and to enhance the country’s overall missile-based deterrence posture.
Where does India stand?
Meanwhile, India is reportedly exploring the creation of a separate Rocket Force, though no formal decision has been made, intelligence sources told CNN-News18. The proposal is being considered in light of evolving security challenges, particularly along the borders with China and Pakistan.
Currently, India’s Strategic Forces Command manages the country’s nuclear arsenal, while the individual services operate conventional weapons. The idea of a dedicated force for long-range strike capabilities has gained attention in the context of recent global conflicts, where missile and rocket systems have played a decisive role on the battlefield.
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan highlighted the need to modernise India’s armed forces, emphasizing the changing nature of warfare. He noted that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics, advanced materials, robotics, and edge computing, are transforming how modern conflicts are fought and shaping future military strategies.
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