In a major step to boost the country’s security, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command, a specialized unit designed to enhance Pakistan’s conventional warfare capabilities. The announcement came during a grand Independence Day and Marka-i-Haq celebration at Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium late Wednesday night.
The move follows Pakistan’s recent military conflict with India, after which the government decided to increase the defence budget by 20% for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Marka-i-Haq and the Spirit of Victory
Marka-i-Haq—meaning “Battle of Truth”—is the official term used for the recent confrontation with India, which began after the April 22 Pahalgam attack and ended in a ceasefire on May 10. Addressing the crowd, PM Shehbaz said the Rocket Force, equipped with the latest technology and capable of striking from multiple directions, would be a milestone in Pakistan’s defence journey.
He hailed Pakistan’s swift and decisive military response, claiming victory was achieved within “three to four days.” “India forgot that wars are not won by weapons alone, but by the spirit of a united nation,” the PM declared.
A Night of Patriotism and Pageantry
The Independence Day ceremony was attended by top civil and military leadership, including COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as diplomats and foreign military delegations from Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The night featured military parades, aerial displays by the Pakistan Air Force Falcons, and a spectacular fireworks show at midnight.
The prime minister also unveiled the digital model of the Marka-i-Haq Monument, a tribute to the nation’s resilience.
Honouring Pakistan’s Defence Legacy
PM Shehbaz paid glowing tribute to the pioneers of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, especially Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, for making Pakistan the seventh nuclear power. He praised then-PM Nawaz Sharif for withstanding global pressure in 1998 and proceeding with the Chagai nuclear tests. Emphasizing Pakistan’s peaceful intentions, he reaffirmed: “Our nuclear arsenal is not for aggression; it is for defence.”
A Call for National Unity
The prime minister has invited all political parties to join the Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan—a pact for national stability. PM urged the leaders to put aside political differences in the greater national interest so the world could see the united picture of Pakistan in the face of challenges. Difference are there but when it comes to Pakistan we are all the same with same goal.