Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

Reminding the three Armed Forces about the importance of operating “jointly”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked topmost military commanders of the country to bring about integration and jointness in operations. Modi was addressing the combined commanders’ conference at Jodhpur this afternoon.

Discussions are on within the three Forces on having a “theatre command” structure.

This is being opposed from within, especially by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The US has long followed such a structure and China has recently adopted it. A “theatre command” envisages integration of all military assets — Army, IAF and Navy — under one commander.

At present, the three Forces operate with separate strategies under separate commanders at each regional command. The only existing operational unified command is at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the assets of the Army, Navy and IAF are placed under a Vice-Admiral.

Earlier, PM Modi visited the Konark War Memorial at Jodhpur.