GAINING MOMENTUM AGAINST THEATRISATION

The idea of Theatrisation of Indian forces seems to have gone on pause because of the consistent and seemingly logical resistance of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

- Prakash Nanda

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are now stressing more on "jointness" rather than Theatrisation, though officials explain the perceived shift in the approach by saying that " jointness is the first step towards creating tri-theatre commands."

At present, India has a total of 19 commands — seven army commands (six operational); seven air force commands (five operational); three naval commands (two operational); and two joint commands. But none of them are co-located, and their geographical zones of responsibility have little commonality.

Initially, it was reported that the government was toying with the idea ( though not announced officially) of having five commands: The Northern Command along the border with China, from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to the last outpost Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh; the Western Command will look after the border with Pakistan, from Indira Col on Saltoro Ridge in the Siachen Glacier region to the tip of Gujarat; the Peninsular Command by merging the Western and the Eastern Command of the Indian Navy; a full-fledged air defence command that will not only spearhead the country’s aerial attack but also be responsible for defending Indian airspace through multi-role fighters and antiaircraft missiles; and the Command tasked with protecting the Indian Ocean and India's Island territories as well as keeping the sea lanes free and open from any outside pressure.

But, of late, one is hearing of only three “theatre commands” — Maritime or Peninsular Command, China Front Command based in Lucknow, and the Jaipur-based Command for Pakistan contingencies, each to be headed by a 4-star rank officer, who, in turn, will report directly to the Defence Minister. Speculations are that the Army, Air Force and the Navy will head one command each, and hence each of the services will be happy.