New Delhi: Pakistan has formally introduced the creation of the Military Rocket Power Command (ARFC) following the Could 2025 battle with India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the brand new command in August 2025, emphasising its position in strengthening Pakistan’s means to reply to precision missile assaults.
Throughout the Could battle, Pakistan’s use of its Fatah-series ballistic missiles was largely unsuccessful, and Indian BrahMos missile strikes demonstrated the restrictions of Pakistan’s current missile choices.
Previous to the ARFC, Pakistan’s nuclear and traditional missiles have been managed beneath a single Nuclear Command Authority. With the ARFC, all standard missiles at the moment are managed individually.
Defence consultants say that that is the primary time Pakistan has clearly structured its standard missile capabilities independently from its nuclear forces. The change goals to enhance command and management, speed up response time and supply Pakistan with a extra coordinated method to missile deployment.
The first objective of the ARFC is to boost Pakistan’s means to counter Indian precision strikes. Analysts observe that this transfer might cut back the danger of nuclear escalation throughout a standard battle, as the main focus will now be on standard missile use, just like Iran’s method in regional conflicts.
The ARFC’s institution means that Pakistan will rely closely on ballistic and cruise missiles in future conflicts, making certain faster and extra exact retaliatory strikes.
Traditionally, China created its second artillery corps in 1966, which later grew to become the Individuals’s Liberation Military Rocket Power (PLARF).
In 2021, recognising rising missile capabilities within the area, India’s then-Chief of Defence Employees Common Bipin Rawat proposed an Built-in Rocket Power (IRF) for India.
Conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and the 2025 Iran-Israel warfare have highlighted the growing position of missiles in fashionable warfare. Whereas China’s PLARF operates each nuclear and traditional missiles, the ARFC and India’s IRF focus solely on standard missiles.
Throughout the Operation Sindoor, India’s use of precision-guided munitions, together with the BrahMos and SCALP missiles, highlighted the restrictions of Pakistan’s standard arsenal. A number of Pakistani missiles, whereas dual-capable, remained beneath nuclear management, limiting standard use.
The ARFC was created to deal with this hole and permit speedy and exact responses in future engagements. Analysts emphasise that the ARFC reduces the danger of nuclear escalation whereas enhancing standard strike capabilities.
Writing for South Asia Vice, defence skilled Ali Mustafa highlighted that Pakistan’s navy didn’t execute efficient missile strikes in opposition to India in Could 2025. He acknowledged that consolidating standard missiles beneath the ARFC will enable the navy to reply rapidly in future crises whereas minimising nuclear threat.
He additionally highlighted that Pakistan plans to make use of its Babur, Fatah and hypersonic missiles beneath this new command construction.
The ARFC is anticipated to enhance Pakistan’s operational management over its standard missile arsenal, permitting sooner decision-making and coordinated launches.
The analysts state that this might make standard missile conflicts in South Asia extra intense, as either side might prioritize deep-target strikes on navy and industrial belongings. Whereas the ARFC supplies Pakistan with instruments to handle crises earlier than escalation, any future battle might nonetheless end in substantial harm and a robust retaliatory response from India.
The ARFC displays Pakistan’s strategic shift towards managing standard missiles independently, enhancing rapid-response functionality and decreasing reliance on nuclear belongings. The command is designed to offer operational readability and coordination, whereas the consultants warning that it might additionally improve the dimensions and depth of future standard missile exchanges within the area.