Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced the setting up of a tri-services joint theater command to ensure coordination among the armed forces. He was speaking at a function organized by the Jammu Kashmir People’s Forum in Jammu to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces, news agency PTI reported.
Singh said, “Keeping in view (joint operations as considered in Operation Vijay in Kargil), we have decided to set up joint theatre instructions (in the country)”.
HT noted in February year-end that India was ready to begin the initial roll-out of its long-awaited theaterisation plan, with the Air Defense Command and Maritime Theater Command likely to be launched in May 2020, although the directives will take two years to be fully implemented. Theaterization has full support of the government.
In June 2021, the authority constituted an eight-member panel to fine-tune the theaterization plans for the speedy roll-out of the new joint structure and take on board all stakeholders, especially the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Army’s theorization model, a long-awaited reform, will create flexibility to fall back on existing commands and manage structures to deal with any contingencies for the duration of the transition phase, a professional said. Stabilization of theater instructions can take up to five years, and it is integral to ensure that there is a mechanism to quickly return to pre-theatre reputation should a crisis occur during reconstruction.
Singh paid tribute to the martyrs and said, U . s can’t forget their supreme sacrifice to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a country.
“It is the obligation of the society and the people to supply their utmost appreciate to the martyrs and their families,” he said.
“Whatever support you can offer, do to for their families. It is the responsibility of every citizen,” he added.
The defense minister also said that India is fast moving from being the world’s largest importer of defense equipment to being an exporter.
“India was once the world’s largest importer (of defense products). Today, India is no longer the world’s largest importer, but is among the top 25 countries engaged in defense exports,” he pointed out.
Singh said the US has started defense exports worth ₹13,000 crore and aims to expand it to ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 crore by 2025-26.
