Eyes on both China and Pakistan… Integrated Theater Command is ready, now just waiting for government approval, know the complete plan

New Delhi : The Indian Army is now finalising the blueprint for the proposed theatre commands for China, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean region to ensure a well-integrated war-fighting machinery at the two-day Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) that began in Lucknow on Wednesday. With Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attending the JCC on Thursday, senior officers told our sister newspaper Times of India that the tri-service theatre commands will take 12-18 months to take concrete shape on the ground after final approval by the government.

CDS has prepared the blueprint

Army Chief General Anil Chauhan has prepared a blueprint with separate command and control systems for China, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean region. This blueprint is almost ready. It has been shown to the Defense Minister and other officials. Now the government has to take a final decision on it. According to the plan so far, a Northern Theater Command will be established in Lucknow for matters related to China. At the same time, the Western Command for matters related to Pakistan will be in Jaipur. Similarly, the command for maritime areas will be established in Thiruvananthapuram. This is the biggest change in the military structure of the country after independence.

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The Air Force will have to give up its two commands

This will require the Indian Air Force to give up its Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram and the Army its South-Western Command in Jaipur for theatre commands. The Army’s Central Command in Lucknow will be shifted to another location. Currently, India has a total of 17 single-service commands (Army 7, Air Force 7 and Navy 3). There is little synergy in operations, planning and logistics. However, one hitch could be that the three theatre commanders-in-chief and a deputy CDS should be four-star generals like the CDS and the three service chiefs, who rank above secretaries to the Union government.

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Four-star officer needed

Currently, 17 single service commands and two tri-services commands (Strategic Force Command and Andaman Nicobar Command) are headed by senior three-star officers (Lieutenant General, Air Marshal or Vice Admiral). A top official told TOI that a four-star officer is required for the necessary command and control of a theatre as he/she will have all three services in that geographical area. For example, the maritime theatre command chief will have the entire Navy as well as parts of the Army and Navy under him/her. Whether the political-bureaucratic establishment will agree to four more four-star officers remains to be seen.

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The CDS said the three services are initiating a number of measures on the roadmap for integration. It is “a step-by-step process, starting with cross-service collaboration, leading to a ‘joint culture’ and ultimately achieving integration of forces for conducting joint operations”.