India behind other nations in joint ops, says ex-Army Chief
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 7
Former Chief of the Army General Deepak Kapoor (retd) on Friday said India was falling behind other countries in embracing joint operations for the armed forces.
He gave the example of China, saying that it has one single command facing India along the 3,488 km of Line of Actual Control (LAC). On the other hand, India has seven commands — four of the Army and three of the IAF — facing China, said General Kapoor, adding that the US, Russia, France and UK have done it long back. The Andaman Nicobar Command is an example of joint command on the Indian side.
He was speaking at a web-seminar “Joint warfare by Indian armed forces” organised by the Amity University. The Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, led by its Director General Lt Gen (Dr) SK Gadeock (retd), had organised the discussion.
Lt Gen KM Seth (retd), a former Governor of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura, said the proposed creation of theatre commands would require change in collective mindset of the forces.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (retd), former Chief of the IAF, narrated how difficult it was to operate in Ladakh. He spoke about the employment of air power for conflict along the LAC in intelligence gathering and deploying the Army.
Dr W Selavmurthy, former Chief Controller, Research & Development, DRDO, and now the Chancellor of Amity University, Chhattisgarh, said the concept of conducting this strategic seminar was of Dr Ashok K Chauhan, founder president of the Amity Education Group.