ITBP chief says India-China face-offs continue along Arunachal border

Confrontations between Indian and Chinese troops are continuing at several locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapur said Thursday.

“In the past few days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues,” Kapur said at an ITBP event in Alwar, Rajasthan. He said the force’s newly raised Shaurya commandos had played a role in the confrontations and that a full battalion specializing in high-altitude mountain operations was being formed.

The Hindu, citing unidentified government sources, reported that a standoff has persisted since late July near Asaphila, close to Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district. According to the report, Indian and Chinese troops initially encountered each other during routine patrols near Maja and withdrew after a brief confrontation. Chinese troops later returned in larger numbers and established tents about 6 to 7 kilometers inside India’s perception of the Line of Actual Control. India has increased its deployment in the area, the newspaper reported.

Kapur also said the ITBP was preparing for modern border warfare by expanding its use of drones, specialized commandos and underground shelters. He warned that traditional weapons alone would not be sufficient.

India and China have held three rounds of high-level border talks since July, including an August meeting of their special representatives and a September Corps Commander-level meeting in the eastern sector.