On theatre commands, let’s finish arguing, reach a settlement, before next crisis comes

6 min readOct 28, 2026 06:32 AM IST First published on: Oct 28, 2026 at 06:16 AM IST

Seven years after the government directed the newly minted Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to restructure military commands and bring about jointness through the establishment of theatre commands, the debate seems to have become a quarrel over turf garbed in the language of high principles. The Army worries about not getting air support when needed. The Air Force worries that its scarce squadrons will be divided and controlled by theatre commanders. The Navy worries that a continental mindset will starve it of resources.

These worries are legitimate. But their persistence shows that we have failed to learn what others have learned the hard way: That air power has been a bone of contention between the services ever since World War I, and that inter-service disputes are best settled by negotiations under the watchful eye of committed politicians who comprehend the gravity of the issues.