ITBP chief Shatrujeet Kapur said the confrontations had been continuing since July, following reports that Chinese troops were preventing Indian forces from accessing designated patrolling points near Taksing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“Over the past few days, face-offs occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, and the situation continues,” Kapur said during an annual felicitation ceremony for ITBP personnel.
His remarks indicate that border tensions persisted even during the BRICS Summit held in New Delhi in September, which Chinese President Xi Jinping attended.
Kapur praised the performance of the ITBP’s newly established Shaurya commandos during the confrontations, describing their role as exemplary. The specialised personnel are trained to operate in high-altitude environments and handle challenging combat situations.
Established in 1962, the ITBP is responsible for guarding India’s 3,488-kilometre-long border with China along the LAC.
Kapur emphasised that the force must retain its original role as a mountain warfare unit while continuing its border security responsibilities. He described the China frontier as the force’s most challenging operational sector.
He also outlined several measures being undertaken to strengthen preparedness, including the deployment of drone platoons across border units, specialised combat training to handle situations similar to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and the development of underground infrastructure.
Tensions along the Arunachal Pradesh border have intensified in recent months. In July, a fact-finding team from the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) alleged that Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops were obstructing Indian access to designated patrolling points in the Taksing area. The team also raised concerns over increased Chinese activity in Upper Subansiri district.
The PPA, a regional political party represented by two MLAs in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, brought the allegations to public attention. The government, however, rejected the claims while reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India.
The developments have prompted the Congress to question the Narendra Modi government’s response to the border situation, with party leaders demanding explanations from the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told India Today that there had been no fresh Chinese occupation of territory in Arunachal Pradesh. However, he acknowledged concerns among local residents over access to certain grazing areas near the border.
Reacting to the ITBP chief’s remarks, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised what he described as the Prime Minister’s silence over the latest developments. In a post on X, he praised the ITBP’s performance during the confrontations while questioning the government’s handling of relations with Beijing.
Ramesh also raised questions about the outcome of Corps commander-level talks held in September to maintain peace along the LAC. The meeting was the first flag meeting between senior military commanders in the Arunachal Pradesh sector.
He further alleged that local residents had reported losing access to patrolling points, drawing a comparison with developments in eastern Ladakh. Ramesh also cited China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a proposed 60,000-MW dam, which he said could threaten India’s ecological and water security.
