Understand why theatre command is not just a matter of security but also a strategy of international diplomacy

New Delhi : To further improve coordination among the three forces, the Modi government has moved rapidly towards creating an ‘Integrated Theater Command’. Theater Command will be a system under which the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force will be able to efficiently use each other’s capabilities with better coordination. The military leadership is finalizing new theater commands with a focus on China, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean. The draft is completely ready, just waiting for the government’s approval. There is a plan to create not just one theater command, but 2 to 5 such commands. Each theater command will be headed by a three-star officer of the Army, Air Force or Navy and all theater commands will be headed by the Chief of Defense Staff. The turmoil in Bangladesh has also increased the worries of the Indian Army. Several incidents like the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia are telling us why it is necessary to improve and strengthen military capabilities. According to a report in Hindustan Times, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first assumed power at the Centre 10 years ago, he/she had already indicated his/her thinking about theatre command to the military officers. Its purpose is also to materialise the dream of a ‘developed India’.

According to HT report, ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in May 2014, he/she has seen the Indian Army in one colour – the colours of the tricolour. he/she believes that there should be no discrimination among the three wings of the army. With this thinking, the Modi government is preparing to create ‘Theatre Command’, so that all three wings of the army can work together. The purpose of this change is to realize the dream of ‘Developed India’, where India can make its strong place on the global stage. Like China, India also wants to be able to influence global events by increasing its power.

The Modi government has taken several steps for this change. The appointment of 55 officers in the Indian Foreign Service this year is an example of this. Theater commands are also part of this plan, because future wars will not be fought only on land but also in space. Satellites will become weapons. Therefore, the army will have to be prepared to face every kind of challenge.

In the Joint Combined Commanders Conference held in Lucknow on September 4, Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan explained in detail about the theater command. During this, he/she also answered the questions of all the commanders-in-chief. The draft of the theater command is ready and now it will be sent to the government for approval.

Although the main job of the army is to protect India from external threats, the Modi government wants to give more responsibilities to the army keeping in mind the dream of ‘developed India’. HT’s report says that the government wants India to be able to put its point across in every corner of the world and also take action if needed.

In the Lucknow conference, Army’s Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General RC Tiwari gave a presentation in front of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. In this, he/she gave information about the activities of the Chinese army PLA and the situation of LAC in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. China has already formed theater commands. It has deployed its Western Theater Command on the 3488 km long LAC. There is tension on the LAC since the cowardly attack of the Chinese army on unarmed Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh in May 2020. There has been a large military deployment on the LAC by both the countries. China has deployed more than one lakh soldiers with heavy weapons in the eastern Ladakh sector. Although soldiers have been removed from some places, the tension still persists. Several rounds of military level talks have been held between the two countries to reduce tension and this process is continuing.

The ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh has also increased the concern of the Indian Army. On one side there is China’s PLA and on the other side there are radical Islamic organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam and Ansar Bangla Team active in Bangladesh. The inclination of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) towards Pakistan and its anti-India stance has been well known. In such a situation, India will have to be prepared for every situation. The interim government of Bangladesh has not yet been able to restore law and order in the country. There are continuous attacks on Hindus and it seems that Islamic fundamentalists are doing as they please.

There is an atmosphere of turmoil in the world between Ukraine and Gaza war. In such a situation, India needs to strengthen its military capability. For this, ‘Theatre Command’ is an effective solution. This will help in collecting and using intelligence. PM Modi has made it clear that he/she sees the Indian Army in only one color – the color of the Indian tricolor. he/she had said, ‘I see the Indian Armed Forces in only one color (Indian flag) and do not differentiate or discriminate between the different colors of the services.’ Through the Theater Command, the Modi government wants to take this thinking forward.