Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of the “Army Rocket Force Command” to reinforce the nation’s defense capabilities.
Islamabad is promoting its military capabilities after its recent military confirm with India, increasing the defense budget by 20 percent for fiscal year 2025-2026.
“On this occasion, today he announced the formation of the Army Rocketes Force command,” the prime minister said to a special ceremony held at the Jinnah Sports Stadium in Islamabad on Wednesday night to celebrate the 79th Independence Day of Pakistan and Marka-I-Haq.
Marka-I-Haq (Battle of Truth) is a term that the State uses for the recent conflict with India, when Pakistan responded to the Indian aggression after Pahalgam attack on April 22, before reaching a high fire on May 10.
“Equipped with modern technology and capable of attacking the enemy from all directions, this force will demonstrate another milestone to further strengthen our conventional war capabilities,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz.
Pakistan has sophisticated missile capabilities, some of which were deployed in May together with J-10c vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets.
“After the recent conflict, the objective, of course, is to strengthen Pakistan’s military capacity and this is part of that process,” said Defense Analyst Talat Masood, a former general. AFP.
The high profile event last night presented a countdown to midnight and culminated in a spectacular fireworks exhibition while the national anthem was played.
The Chief of the Chief of the Army (COAS) also attended Munir, President Asif Ali Zardari, the Vice President Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, the president of the Senate Yousuf Raza Gilani, president of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, federal and state and diplomatic ministers.
The different branches of the Armed Forces took parades, while Turkiye and Azerbaiyan military personnel also appeared in the parade. The Halcons of the Pakistan Air Force also made a fly beyond the place.
During his speech, the prime minister stressed that the recent military conflict with India concluded with the decisive victory of Pakistan “within three or four days.”
“India forgot that wars are not won alone with weapons, but with the spirit of the nation,” he said, adding that defeat taught India a lesson that he will never forget.
Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the period after the conflict as the “birth of a new Pakistan” and called Munir a “son of the nation”, whose strategy led to a decisive military victory.
The prime minister also presented the Digital Model of the Marka-I-Haq monument.
He praised the leadership of Coas Munir, the president of the Committee of Chiefs of General Staff, Gen Sahir Shamshad, and the head of Air Paf, the Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber, for his coordinated and rapid response to the Indian aggression.
The military confrontation between India and Pakistan arrived in May when the first, without evidence, linked Pahalgam’s attack with Islamabad, who strongly denied the accusations. On the night of May 6 to 7, New Delhi launched a series of air attacks in Pakistan, killing at least 40 civilians. Both parties exchanged missiles, which extended during the week, before a high negotiated fire in the United States would have agreed to stop hostilities.
During his speech, the prime minister also paid tribute to the pioneers of the Pakistan atomic program, especially former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, along with other politicians, scientists and the Armed Forces, for making Pakistan the power of the world of the world.
He also praised the then PM Nawaz Sharif, his brother and president of PML-N, for resisting international pressure in 1998 and making the brave decision to move forward with nuclear tests in Baluchistan Chagai.
“Our nuclear arsenal is not for aggression. It is only for defense purposes,” said Prime Minister.
The prime minister also announced the digital model of the Marka–Haq monument.
At another outstanding point of the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz invited all political parties to be part of ‘Misaq-I-Istohkam-i-Pakistan’, to lay the foundations of the greatest national interest.
He stressed the need for the pact so that everyone could see that “differences have their own place, but we are all one for the good of our beloved Pakistan.”
ADDITION OF AFP
