Article Posted on : - Aug 28, 2009

Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta during a news conference in New Delhi on Thursday Photo Credit: PTI

NEW DELHI (PTI): Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta Thursday said the present system of having a chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) was working fine but the armed forces would need the services of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as they move towards a larger strategic setup.

"Within the existing limitations, it (COSC system) is working fine, but in the due course of time as we go on to have a larger strategic set up, we will certainly need a CDS," he told reporters here.

"It would be difficult for one of the services chiefs to devote so much of time," he added.

Under the present system, the senior most service chief is appointed as the chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, and he advises the government on military and security matters on behalf of the three services whereas the CDS will be the single window of interaction.

Commenting on the lessons learnt by the Navy after 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, he said," We have much more coordination among the concerned agencies that are involved and now we have much better wherewithal in place wherein we are able to keep track of all that is happening around us.