Differences on Theatre Commands Healthy, Will Resolve in Nation's Interest: CDS

The ongoing debate over India's ambitious plan to set up integrated tri-services theatre commands may have sparked differences among the armed forces, but Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said the "dissonance" will be resolved with openness and in the best interest of the nation.

- FPNS/Agencies

Speaking at the concluding session of the two-day Ran Samvad conclave in Mhow, Gen Chauhan said the very fact that the Army, Navy, and Air Force can voice differing views in a respectful manner is itself a mark of progress.

"As a CDS, I set out to promote jointness among the three services. Today, I can say with some kind of pleasure and confidence that we can speak about our differences in a very conducive environment, with openness to different views, without temperatures being risen," he remarked.

The comments came after both Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi offered contrasting perspectives. While the Air Chief stressed on Tuesday that the armed forces should not come under "any pressure" to roll out theatre commands, the Navy Chief asserted that his force is fully committed to synergising its command, control, communications, and combat capability with the other two services in line with the theatreisation vision.