Military top brass differ on 'theatre commands'

A sharp-difference of opinion has emerged among the military top-brass on the proposed structure of ‘theatre commands’. Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi, today, batted in favour of having ‘theaterisation’ as a goal while the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan acknowledged ‘dissonance’ on the subject and added, it was being ‘resolved’.

This comes a day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh cautioned against having ‘theatre commands’, for now.

Speaking at the ‘Ran Samwad’ — a two-day (Aug 26-27) brain storming seminar at the Army War College — here yesterday, the IAF chief had suggested a different format for military coordination, one led at the level of the service chiefs.

Today, Admiral DK Tripathi said, “the Navy was committed to ‘theaterisation’ as the ultimate goal”. The Navy was committed to synergising its communications and combat capability with the Army and IAF, he said.

‘Theaterisation’ is military jargon for creating geographically defined area of operations, with a military commander heading it and controlling all war-fighting assets like planes, copter, guns, tanks, equipment and manpower.

The Navy Chief elaborated his opinion: “We are propelling ahead with the goal of unified planning, having a common (operational) picture and integrated operations”.

Significant efforts are being progressed is jointness and integration, he said adding, “We are committed to synergising our command control communications and combat capability with the Army and the IAF.”

Speaking at the conclusion of the seminar, the CDS, who is mandated by the government with creating theatre commands, played ‘peacemaker’. “It’s a very good sign if you have sensed some kind of a dissonance, let me assure you that we will resolve it in the best interest of the nation,” General Chauhan added.

The CDS said, it was ‘confidence’ among each other that differences can be discussed in a very conducive environment. “… it’s the openness to patiently listen to others with different and alternate points of view’. He suggested the forces were ready to listen to each other’s point if there could be a difference of opinion.

The post of CDS formally came into being on Jan 1, 2020, when Gen Bipin Rawat was appointed. Gen Chauhan, who succeeded Gen Rawat in Sept 2022, said there was need to ‘progress things faster’. “Be assured that we are doing our best,” Gen Chauhan added.

The IAF Chief on Tuesday said: “We, for now, don’t need any new structure (theatre commands) at the lower level.” It also asked the forces to not come under any pressure of creating structures.

He also wanted that core competence of each service be retained in the structure of jointness.

The IAF Chief had suggested an alternate way to the ‘theatre commands’ saying “let us have a joint planning and coordination centre at New Delhi. We plan centrally and execution of tasks is de-centralised”. He spoke against disrupting everything and making one structure now at this time saying, “I do not think it is a very good idea”.