ITBP Chief Confirms Ongoing Face-Offs at Multiple Locations in Arunachal Pradesh

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur has confirmed that face-offs have taken place at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh and that the situation remains ongoing.

Speaking at the annual felicitation ceremony for ITBP personnel in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, Kapur praised the force’s newly raised Shaurya Commando teams for their role in handling the situation. Although he did not name China, his remarks came amid reports of tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The statement comes more than a month after India and China held Corps Commander-level talks on September 6 at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point on the Indian side to address issues in the Taksing area of Arunachal Pradesh.

According to reports, the talks followed several meetings between local commanders from both sides. Sources said Indian troops continue to be deployed in large numbers in the area to prevent further escalation.

Kapur also stressed the need to modernise the ITBP’s weapons and equipment, noting that many personnel continue to use weapons similar to those issued when they joined the force. He said the department had made substantial provisions for modernisation.

Highlighting the growing importance of drone warfare, the ITBP chief cited the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Iran’s use of drones to underline how emerging technologies can enable smaller forces to challenge stronger adversaries.

Speaking about weapons, Kapur said “We are using the same old weapons; there have been some changes in weaponry, but they are all the same. There is a need for modernisation and we have made a big provision for it in our scheme.”

Kapur also reiterated the ITBP’s mandate as a mountain warfare force responsible for guarding India’s border with China, a role formally assigned to the force in 2004.