Need for debate on CDS,says IAF chief

He said an improperly created institution would create more obstruction than solve a problem.

A detailed debate should take place on the need for a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the best model suited to Indian conditions should be adopted,IAF chief P V Naik said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference during his visit at the Central Air Command (Bamrauli) here,Naik questioned the relevance of the CDS in the current form. He said an improperly created institution would create more obstruction than solve a problem.

We need to have a detailed debate on the issue so that we are able to work out a solution that is best suited to our interests. Merely creating a CDS is not going to solve all the problems, said Naik. There is a wrong impression that the Air Force does not want the CDS. But will it work in the current form? Do we need such an institution in the first place? I believe there is tremendous synergy between the Forces and it has been proved whenever we have been in action be it 1947,1965,1971 or Kargil. There is no point in having a three-star,four-star or five-star chief of the IDS (Integrated Defence Staff),an existing organisation,appointed as the CDS. Several countries have differing models of the CDS. The point is we need a model that suits us the best, said Naik.

The outgoing Air Force chief pointed out that many nations,where CDS existed,were the ones involved in operations outside their boundaries.

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