The Vulnerable Sky

AVM Anil Golani (retd)

There has been a lot of speculation in the media, both, over the proposed structure of the Theatre Commands, as well as the objections that the IAF has over them. It is being said that one service has been playing spoilsport at the cost of the national interest.

The acrimony over the suggested changes and the command of these proposed formations does not augur well for the men in uniform (irrespective of colour), as well as the nation, especially so during the present turbulent times. There is both comfort and danger in clinging to long-established status quo. The cost of procrastination at the same time can cost nations dearly. The fact that change, which is the only constant, is inevitable cannot be wished away. However, wise counsel must prevail and, change, whether incremental or sudden, must only be implemented after collaborative discussions.

The Kargil Review Committee, Naresh Chandra Task Force and the Shekatkar Committee, all made a slew of recommendations related to defence reform and reorganisation of the service headquarters as an integral part of the ministry of defence. None of them spoke of the need to create Theatre Commands. There was, however, unanimity in opinion to have a Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) as a ‘chief coordinator’ between the military and the MoD.

The Shekatkar Committee which submitted its report in December 2016 was tasked to recommend measures to ‘enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces.’ The Arun Singh Committee on Defence Expenditure in 1993 had suggested the integration of the three services headquarters and the setting up of the vice chief of defence staff from any service, who would represent the forces collectively in the defence ministry, having direct access to the defence minister. The other changes recommended included measures to reduce wastage of effort in triplication of duties at the MoD, Service Headquarters and Finance. Some of these have been partially implemented now since the creation of the chief of defence staff and the department of military affairs.

Space, Cyber and Special Ops

In 2012-13, when the proposal for the creation of three integrated commands of cyber, space and special operations was mooted by the then Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, it was done only after extensive deliberations at the Service Headquarters and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

It was felt that these were the areas that would require increased focus and synergy in the future to safeguard the nation. Notwithstanding the fact that this has turned out to be prophetic, there was unanimity in the proposal as differences had been resolved professionally. To sweeten the deal, each service was allocated its share of the pie. The government, however, objected to the creation of three additional commands with addition