“THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE”
Q Looking back at the past year, what has been your biggest achievement as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)?
We’ve been able to get all the services on board on the issue of integration. It has dawned on everyone that—to be combat-effective—unless we operate together, we won’t be able to apply our combat power the way we should. It’s good to have individually strong services, but it shouldn’t lead to lopsided development of one service. Finally, we have to realise that each service has to operate in a synergistic, coordinated manner with the other services. Wars are fought for ensuring territorial integrity, hence the army is supported by other services to ensure victory on land.
Q. Within four months of taking charge, you faced a crisis on the border with China. How did the office of the CDS help in this situation?
Earlier, there was hesitation on sharing information between the services or it was unduly delayed. With the CDS coming into the picture, the three
