CONCEPTUALLY, though the principle of unity of command remains central to any military war strategy, its application has become inevitably significant in an asymmetric modern warfare.
It ensures that each member of an organization reports to a single leader, streamlining decision-making and preventing conflicting directives. This structure places the commander as the essential element for operational success. The principle emphasizes a clear chain of command, crucial for coordination and efficiency, particularly in a war-mongering environment where rapid and decisive action is paramount. In order to enhance and align the enduring principle of unity of command with unified allied command while addressing the concurrent challenges emerging in conational and non-conventional warfare, Pakistan is evolving its military command structure.
Objectively speaking, in battlefields, unity of command is the real test of a commander’s leadership qualities. Doctrinally, unity of command is central to unity of effort and unity of purpose. A good commander in both conventional and a non-conventional welfare possess qualities like strategic thinking and as a vanguard, leading from the front and making tough decisions under pressure. It goes without saying that a divided command can be disruptive, potentially leading to instability and reduced effectiveness, especially during critical operations.
Consequently, the concept of ‘clear authority’ is evolved through unity of command. It ensures all forces are working toward a single, common goal, which is the foundation for unity of effort. Thus, a clear command structure allows for faster decision-making and a more efficient application of combat power, potentially saving lives and resources. In military operations, the concept of unity of command means having a single, responsible commander with the authority to direct all participating forces toward a common purpose. More importantly, effective unity of command minimizes confusion and maximizes the chances of achieving strategic objectives.
That said, a unified joint command structure is crucial in modern warfare to overcome service-specific limitations and foster collaboration. This establishes a common understanding across various operational domains, which is vital for managing the complexity of contemporary conflicts. This approach maximizes the capabilities available and enables engagement across multiple warfare types simultaneously. This structure integrates individual services such as Army, Navy and Air Force to achieve a composite whole, with the goal of increasing operational efficiency by ensuring there is one mission and one boss.
Given the recent context of the four-day military conflict (May 7-10) between India and Pakistan, a hybrid war with a predominantly conventional character in its execution but operating within the persistent context of unconventional, sub-conventional and nuclear deterrence dynamics. This war also characterized a significant multi-domain confrontation involving ground, air and potentially cyber warfare, which serves as a recent example highlighting the dynamics of command structures. The conflict has spurred analysis within both nations regarding their military doctrines and command structures involving multi-domain challenge.
While launching Marka-Haq under the divine initiative of operation Bunyan-e-Marsous (May 10), Pakistan’s defence forces, particularly the Army and Air Force, demonstrated notable coordination and discipline, which was a factor in their ability to respond effectively to Indian military actions. This suggests a successful application of unified effort or command in action. Under the command of Pak Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan military has demonstrated unity and strength, earning Pak military global recognition for its role in defending the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while inflicting a coup de grace to the enemy, ensuring an exemplary defeat for India. Recently, Pakistan has formed Army rocket force command. Today, Pakistan’s military and its strategic command are fully committed to countering the asymmetric, conventional and unconventional security challenges.
And yet, while unity of command is a key principle, its application faces certain challenges in modern warfare. This means coordinating diverse technological assets and cyber capabilities under a unified command structure is essential for effective operations. In a multi-domain war propelling environment, the imperative of command evolution means that all forces operate under a single commander.
The military conflict changing the contours of war between India and Pakistan, has underscored the need for Pakistan to evolve its military command structure. Given the asymmetric dynamics of modern warfare, Pakistan is expected to further improve its coordination and response times, allowing it to effectively counter any aggression on its eastern and western borders. Thus, to pragmatically bridge the gaps between multiple domain and command coordination, the military strategists urge for creating a post of the Chief of Defence Forces. This designation to be held by the Chief of Army Staff–replacing the CJCSC’s powers– will be responsible of controlling and monitoring integrated theatre commands in Army, Air force and Navy to ensure better joint planning and coordination.
Thus, the proposed designation, the Chief of Defence Forces, will help establish a unified command, placing the holder at the apex of military hierarchy, ensuring a single source of authority for the large-scale military operations and hence, along with the other proposed changes in article 243 through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, also include changes to the command structure of the Pakistan defence forces. Therefore, by evolving its military command structure, the Pakistan military will be well-positioned to enhance its operational readiness, improve coordination between different arms of military and develop a more agile and responsive force capable of addressing emerging threats.
Moreover, there can be no denying the fact that no other country in the world has sacrificed as much as Pakistan in the war against terrorism. The Pakistan Army has been fighting bravely to protect its people and the world from the scourge of terror. Today, Pakistan stands as a bulwark state against terrorism. With the country’s military modernization efforts, coupled with its strategic location and strong leadership, Pakistan will be able to maintain a strong deterrence posture against its adversaries and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
—The writer, based in Pakistan, an independent IR & International Law analyst, also an expert in Conflict and Peace Studies (with special focus on Palestine, Kashmir), is member of European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR), including the Washington Foreign Law Society/American Society of International Law.
