New Delhi: ThePrint has learned that India is working on setting up two integrated theater commands to counter Pakistan and China, with the first one facing the western borders as well as a maritime theater command.
Jaipur, home to the Army’s South Western Command (SWC), will be the headquarters of the theater command that looks after Pakistan. A second theater command to look after the borders with China will be formed in Lucknow, which is currently the headquarters of the Central Command.
Incidentally, both the South Western and Central Commands had earlier conducted a detailed study on the theater command structure.
sources say Defense and Security Establishment Said that to look after India’s maritime and coastal interests, a maritime theater command would be formed at Karwar in Karnataka, which is close to Goa.
He said the Marine Command would be headed by a Navy officer, while the other two would have rotation appointments from the Army and the Air Force.
As Reported by ThePrint last monthAfter months of indecisiveness, multiple plans and objections, the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) are “99 per cent” on the broad contours of theater commands.
Sources said that Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan is leading the discussions on theater commands with the service chiefs, while the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is holding several meetings with various stakeholders.
He said that the first Integrated Theater Command at Jaipur would be a testing ground and would take into account the deficiencies, the fine tuning required and the challenges to come.
Elements of the Army’s South Western, Western and Southern Command and Northern Command, in addition to the Indian Air Force’s Western and South Western Air Command and Central and Southern Command, will come under the Jaipur-based theater command.
“Eventually, all operational commands of the Army, Air Force and Navy will be merged into the three theatres,” said a source.
Sources said all theater commanders will report to the CDS, adding that they are likely to be four-star officers eventually, if not from the outset.
There will be other joint commands, such as those for logistics, training, cyber and space, missiles and intelligence, but they will be headed by three-star officers and will also report to the DMA.
Other joint commands, such as those for logistics, training, cyber and space, missiles and intelligence, will be headed by three-star officers. He will report from the Chief of the Integrated Defense Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) under the CDS.
The Service Chief will be responsible for taking up and sustenance of the issues.
As far as the leader of the first theater commander is concerned, sources said it is yet to be decided by the defense authorities.
He said there are two options – Lt Gen BS Raju, who currently heads the South Western Command, or Lt Gen RP Kalita, currently the Eastern Army Commander.
As per the principle of seniority, Lt Gen Kalita makes it even though the two senior officers belong to the same batch. However, if any of them make it to the new post, the retirement age will be raised to 61 as they have to retire by October and December, sources said, adding that continuity is the key to keep the ball moving.
(Edited by Tony Rae)
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