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Chief Defense Staff position
to coordinate all services and recommended by Kargil review Group of Ministers
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Some disagreements among
services on position
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Commies seen opposing position
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Defense minister Pranab Mukherjee is planning to implement a decision by the
Kargil Oversight Committee, which investigated the Kargil War, to create Chief
of Defense Staff (CDS) as a single-point military adviser to the government
restructuring higher defense hierarchies. However, the communist allies of the
Federal Government have "sought clarifications" on roles and responsibilities
of this new office. Usually, this is political speak for objecting to a
proposal.
A Group of Ministers (GoM) in the former National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
Government recommended the creation of a CDS after reviewing the
recommendations of the KOC. However, for whatever reasons, the NDA did not
implement this recommendation and even after 6 years, there seems to be no
consensus on the issue. Even within the services, the Navy is for such a post,
the Air Force against, and the Army is sitting on the wall.
Politically, there is fear that this position may dilute the powers of the
Defense Minister.
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