This, had it been in place, may have obviated situations like the recent sacking of the naval chief, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. Unfortunately, it was put in cold storage by successive governments. He is also credited with planning, in concert with then Army Chief Gen Sundarji, Operation Brasstacks that tested the combat-readiness of the Army. It is a different matter that the exercise brought the nation to the brink of a war with Pakistan.

He also headed at one time the high-powered cabinet committee on defence expenditure. Thus, when Singh fell out with his political mentor and friend, Rajiv Gandhi, overthe Bofors issue and eventually retired to a secluded life in the mountains of Uttar Pradesh, a promising political career was abruptly cut short. His seclusion and reticence kept under wraps information that could have thrown light on the kickbacks scandal regarding the Bofors gun. In ending his political sanyas, Singh has the noble aim of working ``in any capacity'' to help the nation face the challenge in the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir.

Yet, however welcome Arun Singh's return may be, it has the potential of upsetting the applecart in the Vajpayee government, unless tactfully handled by the Prime Minister himself. Questions will certainly be raised about whether a caretaker government has the moral competence to appoint a high-profile politician, even if it is to the post of officer on special duty in the External Affairs Ministry.

Reports have it that Singh will remain in office only until the crisis on the border is over. Since his specialisation is in defence, his appointment has presumablysomething to do with the conduct of the battle. In that case, there is every reason to worry, for Defence Minister George Fernandes is unlikely to take kindly to any kind of intrusion in his domain, particularly when the BJP has for some time been projecting him as the best defence minister India has had.

Arun Singh's services in the government however can, if utilised effectively, be a stabilising factor particularly when there are differences in perception among some of the key players like Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. He can exert a sobering influence on the government which at times has spoken in different voices.

If, in spite of all this, India has been scoring high on the diplomatic front, it is a measure of the intrinsic merit of its cause. At a time when the defence forces are looking up to the government for guidance, Arun Singh's induction is something that will gladden them for theyknow there is someone who understands the nuances of strategic planning in the government.