General Dwivedi will be the seventh straight counter-insurgency (COIN) specialist to be appointed army chief
By Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 12th June 24
The government announced on Tuesday that the present Northern Army commander, Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Upendra Dwivedi, would take over on June 30 as the next chief of army staff (COAS).
“Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi [is] appointed as next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) with effect from [w.e.f.] afternoon of June 30, 2024,” stated a written Ministry of Defence [MoD] press release.
Gen Dwivedi will be the seventh straight counter-insurgency (COIN) specialist to be promoted to the rank of General and given the coveted appointed of COAS. As evident from the graphic, almost the entire command experience of Indian generals was in the realm of COIN.
Army and tri-service chiefs since September 01, 2016
Battalion Commission | Battalion Command | Brigade Command | Division Command | Corps Command | Theatre Command | Mention of COIN | |
| |||||||
General Bipin Rawat | Infantry (11 Gorkhas) | Infantry (11 Gorkhas) | UN brigade + Rashtriya Rifles sector in Kashmir | Infantry Division in Kashmir | 3 Corps (Eastern Command) | Southern Command | Yes |
General MM Naravane | Infantry (Sikh Light Infantry) | Rashtriya Rifles | Infantry Brigade | Assam Rifles (Inspector Gen) | Strike Corps (Western theatre) | Eastern Command | Yes |
General Manoj Pande | Engineers | Engineer Regiment | Engineer Brigade + Infantry Brigade | 8 Mountain Division (Kargil) | 4 Corps (Eastern Command) | Andaman & Nicobar Command | Yes |
General Anil Chauhan | Infantry (11 Gorkhas) | Infantry 6/11 Gorkhas | Infantry 59 Infantry Bde (Manipur) | 19 Infantry Div (Baramula, J&K) | 33 Corps (Eastern Command) | Eastern Command | Yes |
Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi | Infantry (J&K Rifles) | Infantry (18 JAK Rif) | Assam Rifles (26 Sector | Assam Rifles (IG AR East) | 9 Corps (Western Command) | Northern Command | Yes |
|
Military planners have argued in the past that, with the army heavily committed in COIN operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern states, specialists in COIN were urgently required to lead the army.
However, this logic was discredited in December 2001, when the military was required to deploy for battle, after Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001. By the time the army’s three mechanised strike corps (which are stationed deep inside India in places like Mathura and Bhopal) readied for battle and moved to the border, Pakistan’s army was ready to beat them back.
Army planners concluded that the heavy emphasis on COIN had to be replaced by the army’s traditional skills in conventional battle.
Thus was conceived the army’s doctrine of “Cold Start”, which involved striking Pakistan within 48 hours of a dire provocation – such as a damaging terrorist attack from Pakistan or the assassination of a top Indian leader. Instead of waiting for the mechanised strike corps to poise itself along the border, India would attack by 8-10 “integrated battle groups” (IBGs), cobbled together from tanks and troops, already located along the border.
Benefiting from surprise and concentrated force, Indian wargames had many IBGs piercing through Pakistan’s forward defences. That allowed Indian strike corps to stream through those breaches, capturing large towns and cities in Pakistan’s heartland. This would allow New Delhi to call off the war quickly, in a victorious position.
Key to this was promoting Indian commanders who were specialists in conventional operations, not COIN. However, when it came to promoting generals, India’s MoD selected COIN specialists such as General Bipin Rawat in 2016, while superseding highly-regarded tank warfare specialists such as Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Lt Gen PM Hariz.
Another major step the army has taken towards weakening its offensive strike capability has involved disbanding one of its three strike corps and replacing it with a conventional mountain strike corps. This has amounted to reducing Indian offensive strike power in the plains sectors of Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat; while boosting up its ability for offensive strikes in the northern and eastern mountain sectors.
Promoting a counter-insurgency (COIN) specialist to the position of chief underscores the Army’s commitment to addressing contemporary security challenges. This strategic move reflects the increasing importance of expertise in counter-insurgency operations and the focus on adapting leadership to evolving threats. It’s a proactive step toward enhancing operational effectiveness and resilience in complex security environments.
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The Army's promotion of a counter-insurgency (COIN) specialist to chief highlights its commitment to strategic expertise and operational effectiveness. This decision underscores the importance of experienced leaders who can navigate complex insurgency environments and drive successful counter-insurgency strategies. By leveraging specialized skills and insights, the Army aims to enhance its capabilities and address evolving challenges in security and defense.
ReplyDeletePromoting a counter-insurgency (COIN) specialist as the Army chief reflects India's focus on addressing evolving security challenges. Having a leader with deep expertise in COIN operations ensures that the Army is well-prepared to handle internal threats while maintaining strategic balance. A strong move for national security!
ReplyDeleteWith theater commands army needs to convert and position 4 strike corps against Pakistan and 5 to six against China by converting the existing ho;ding corps into equipment heavy offensive strike corps .Some of the duties in war of holding corps can be offloaded to BSF, ITBP ,SSB , ASSAM rifles with common training and equipment profiles by inducting transferring equipment and officers from Maj to Maj gen rank to them and ranks sent on deputation 5 years before retiring and absorbed in their cadres .
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