follow us:
When Narendra Modi became PM in May 2014, the military chiefs invited him to attend various service functions.
When Narendra Modi became PM in May 2014, the military chiefs invited him to attend various service functions. Later, they expressed concern that he attended only one service’s function. PM Modi reportedly responded by saying that he views the Indian Armed Forces in one unified color — the Indian flag — and does not differentiate between the branches.
From the outset, PM Modi has been dedicated to fostering integration and jointmanship within the armed forces. However, the gradual process of preparing the military for the transition to theatre commands has required patience, especially from Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan.
At the Joint Combined Commanders Conference in Lucknow on September 4, CDS Chauhan presented the concept of military theatre commands and addressed the various questions raised by the assembled Commanders-in-Chief.
Despite the traditional establishment’s hesitation, rooted in an imperial legacy, the draft plan for theatre commands is now complete, awaiting political approval. While India’s military leadership focuses on defending against external threats, the political leadership is steering the armed forces towards a “Viksit Bharat” vision, where India’s interests extend beyond its borders.
This vision, akin to China’s global influence, aims to position India as a major global player. The theatre commands are key to addressing future conflicts across multiple dimensions, including space, aligning with this larger diplomatic and strategic objective.
At the Lucknow conference, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen R C Tewari presented a briefing to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the Chinese PLA’s posture along the LAC in the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.
China’s Western Theatre Command has stationed over a lakh PLA soldiers with heavy equipment along the 3,488 km LAC since the May 2020 aggression in East Ladakh. While disengagement from friction points has occurred, full de-escalation is pending. However, ongoing diplomatic and military dialogues between both sides remain a positive sign.
