Tri-service integrated command in place

Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 29. The long-awaited integration of the three wings of the armed forces at the higher levels will formally get under way on Monday, with the operationalisation of the ``tri- service integrated command''. Lt. Gen. Pankaj Joshi has been designated Chief of Integrated Staff (CIS).

The Joint Andaman & Nicobar Command will become operational a week later with Vice-Admiral Arun Prakash as its first Commander- in-Chief.

The steps are part of the restructuring process of the defence management to make it more responsive to the changing security environment. The changes are being made on the basis of a report by the Group of Ministers on National Security which, in turn, based its deliberations on a task force on defence management headed by Mr. Arun Singh, Adviser (Security) to the Defence and External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh.

The integration at the higher echelons of the armed forces is intended to increase effectiveness in operations. According to a GoM recommendation:``The capabilities of the armed forces can be enhanced significantly, if rather than operating as three individual units, they operate in close tandem with one another in the conduct of various tasks, including training.'' The Indian defence set-up has been relatively slow in proceeding with this process even as several developed countries have already done so. In fact, the Government is yet to take a final view on some of the recommendations put forth by the GoM.

The appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to provide single-point military advice to the Government has been deferred. Turf wars between the three services and need for wider political consultations has prevented the Government from appointing a CDS, whose role will be central in executing any political decision related to nuclear weapons. Lt. Gen. Joshi has been designated CIS instead of Vice-Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS), reporting to the CDS, as originally conceived.

The Government is also taking several other measures, which are part of a series of structural reforms being sequentially undertaken. An integrated procurement board, headed by the Defence Secretary, Mr. Yogendra Narain, has already been set up to accelerate purchase of military equipment. This will correct the present system of taking as many as 32 steps for the purchase of any weapon system.

Another major initiative will be the setting up of a Joint Strategic Forces Command to manage the nuclear weapon systems. The proposal has been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security and the structure is expected to be in place by November. It is likely to be headed by an Air Force officer of the rank of Air Marshal.

The Cabinet will shortly be approached to clear the setting up of a Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to coordinate the functioning of different service intelligence directorates. The Government also plans to integrate the service headquarters in the apex civilian establishment of the Defence Ministry.

Lt. Gen Joshi currently heads the Army Central Command, while Vice-Admiral Prakash is the Chief of Personnel at the Naval HQ. The latter was also part of the task force headed by Mr. Arun Singh.

Simultaneously, four new posts of Deputy Chief of Integrated Staff, comprising tri-service unified intelligence command, planning, training and medical branches are also being set up.

The A and N command is important because it is in a position to exert an influence over the sea lanes on which huge oil tankers, heading from the Persian Gulf towards South-East Asia and Japan, sail.

By placing ships and aircraft in the Andaman and Nicobar group, India will be well positioned to guarantee smooth entry of ships heading towards the Strait of Malacca, the principal gateway to South East Asia through the Malaya peninsula and Indonesia. The Government also plans to set up an air base on the Nicobar islands to acquire a regional influence for the first time.

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