Indian Army Studying Chinese Theatre Command Format

The India Army has been asked to study recent restructuring by China of its commands into ‘theatre commands’ where in one man commands resources of all three services.

“We are studying the Chinese format. We will also have our own format to operate jointly with the IAF and the Navy, which may not necessarily be a theatre command format,” the Indian Army’s newly appointed Chief General Bipin Rawat was quoted as saying by Tribune Tuesday.

The Indian Army has been tasked to maintain a strict vigil along the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China while presenting a friendly face to their counterparts from across the Himalayan divide.

Rawat, in an interview to The Tribune gave his opinion on maintaining peace at the LAC: “Maintain a vigil while presenting a friendly face.”

Gen Rawat, who took charge on December 31, was responding to a question as to how would he ensure that peace was maintained along the 3,488-km-long LAC, the de-facto boundary between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.