Mhow: A dissonance among the armed forces over theatre commands came out during the Ran Samvad dialogue here.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan welcomed the frank discussion and opinions but said the final decision would be reached in the best interests of the nation.
“Let me talk about ‘jointness’ a little bit… as CDS, I actually set out to promote ‘jointness’ among the three services. And today, I can say with a kind of pleasure and confidence that we can speak about our differences in a very conducive kind of environment…,” CDS Gen Chauhan said Wednesday at the Ran Samvad, an ongoing tri-service seminar on military affairs at the Army War College, Mhow. “…openness to patiently listen to others, with different and alternate points of view, without the temperatures rising.”
CDS Gen Chauhan added, “Even if you disagree with a point, there could be hundreds of points we can discuss over here… There can be a difference [in opinions] among the three services, yet we can listen to those points. I think that thing is very, very important. And, I am hopeful that something of that might have rubbed off on the veterans, who are over here. They hold, actually, an even larger desire to protect their respective turfs,” the CDS added.
“So, if you have sensed some dissonance, let me assure you that we will resolve it in the best interests of the nation…,” CDS Gen Chauhan explained. “…whether it is about drones or whether it is about internal air—that’s the term which I heard today—or say, [we can] even integrate some aspects.”
His comments came after IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh batted for a joint planning and coordination centre in Delhi, involving the service chiefs and the CDS, rather than theaterisation. Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, on his part, underlined that theaterisation remained the ultimate aim of all ‘jointness’.
The Navy has always been on board with the theaterisation plan, since it will head the maritime theatre commands, overseeing both the eastern and western maritime boundaries.
However, the Indian Air Force, which plans its operations centrally, moving assets from one command to the other at ease, depending on operational requirements, feels that splitting up air assets into three or more theatre commands is futile and will tie up critical systems.
“Sometimes, you know, there are questions which, actually, all of them, cannot be answered,” CDS Gen Anil Chauhan said. “There were some questions about integration levels and that you need to progress things faster and take it to a higher level. Be assured that we are doing our best.”
In a 17 June 2021 report, ThePrint was the first to state that, contrary to claims regarding implementation, theaterisation will be delayed. The theatre concept, under which India’s military was to be divided into different, independent theatres—as in the US or China—has since then undergone several permutations and combinations.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)