With reference to “China 5; India 1” (July 1), a critical aspect of “upping our game” is the structure and capability of our higher defence organisation to manage a complicated security environment. The appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff and integration of the military with the defence ministry was proposed post-Kargil, but it is yet to be implemented.
Some ascribe the delay to politicians’ and bureaucrats’ fear of a coup. When General V K Singh was the army chief there was panic in the government when troops from Hissar moved for manoeuvres. Similarly, when small teams of army personnel were
