REORGANIZATION, JOINTNESS AND INDIAN ARMED FORCES
Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)
“Separate ground, sea and air warfare is gone forever. If ever
again we should be involved in war, we will fight it in all
elements, with all services, as one single concentrated effort.”
--- Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D
Eisenhower after the end of Second World War
More than 70 years have passed since the end of Second World War. Who does not
know in modern times without jointness no war can be fought. Every modern armed
forces of the world have changed accordingly. Even the Chinese is going in for
integrated commands in a big way. The most honourable exception is Indian Armed
forces. Second largest Army, fourth largest Air Force and sixth largest Navy of the world
refuse to change! They still want to fight the war service wise from their own service
centric Operations Rooms. Led by a Committee. In 21st century. All Command HQs of
all the three services are located at different places! Not a single one is co located. For
example in a conflict with China Eastern Army will fight from Kolkata, Eastern Navy from
Vizag and Eastern Air Force from Shillong.
Post Kargil, Group Of Ministers Report recommended jointness. HQ Integrated Defence
Staff (IDS) was established. It is at best a half baked interim measure without any teeth.
How can a service Chief go against his own service HQ view as Chairman Chiefs of
Staff Committee. One Commandant of US Marine Corps very succinctly summed up the
problem of chairman of such committee : "Being loyal to your own service as well as
the joint services is like being loyal to your wife and mistress at the same time." In 2002-
3 when I was undergoing LDMC Course at College of Defence Management in a
seminar on Jointness ( a very popular subject, plethora of such seminars happen every
year) I asked a question quoting this. A former Naval C in C who was chairing the
session tongue in check told me that in hoi polloi of Delhi some of them manage to do
both! That was two yug,14 years back. I wonder they can still do it. If you don't believe
ask Gen Petraeus! It will continue to remain so till some “shove” comes from political
masters. This is the reason any major decision cannot be taken where any of the
services HQ has some reservations. Can you tell me which are the critical operational
issues where the three services HQs will be unanimous. It is not that HQ IDS does not
do much. In fact, in spite of many systematic problems it has slowly made its presence
felt and taken a number of initiatives which would have never been done without its
existence. At least purple colour has been propagated to all and sundry.
Whenever the issue of lack of jointness comes up at the highest levels, one often hears,
it has to come from top meaning political leadership. I have never heard more ‘daft’
reasoning. You know the problem, you know the solution. But won’t do anything, pass
the buck to political leaders, sit back, relax and play golf. Typical of No Action Talk Only
(NATO) forces. I often wonder is it too much for the political leadership to kick the butt of
some people responsible and get a road map moving. Of course, they have to be clear
in mind what they want to do with jointness.
