Weeks after India-China talks, ITBP chief says face-offs continue in Arunachal

Indian and Chinese troops are continuing face-offs at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh. ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur acknowledged this publicly for the first time, although he did not name China directly. The encounters are linked to unresolved activity along the Line of Actual Control in the region.

The article does not identify every location or describe a specific clash. It reports that local commanders held several meetings, followed by Corps Commander-level talks on September 6. These discussions were intended to address ongoing border issues and prevent the situation from worsening.

The situation has not been resolved. Indian troops continue to operate in large numbers, while ITBP Shaurya Commando teams have taken an active role. Kapur said the face-offs were still ongoing, making continued communication, patrol management, and readiness important.

The Line of Actual Control, or LAC, is the de facto boundary between areas controlled by India and China. It is not the same as a formally settled international border. The article refers to ongoing issues and troop activity along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, where both sides have held military discussions.

The LAC matters because its alignment is contested in places. When troops patrol areas claimed or controlled differently by the two countries, they can meet in face-offs. In this case, repeated meetings between local commanders led to Corps Commander-level talks at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point.

The article shows why the LAC remains important in India-China relations. Continuing face-offs require large troop deployments and regular communication. If commanders cannot manage these encounters, tensions could escalate, although the article does not report a specific armed clash.

The recent military talks were held at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point on the Indian side. They took place on September 6 and involved Corps Commander-level officers from India and China. The meeting followed several discussions between local commanders in the preceding weeks.

The purpose was to address continuing issues along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. The talks came after reports of tensions and face-offs at multiple locations. The article does not provide a detailed list of the disputes or announce a final agreement from the meeting.

The talks were part of an effort to prevent further escalation. Despite them, ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said the face-offs were still continuing. Indian troops also remained deployed in large numbers, showing that the border situation had not returned to normal.

The ITBP is pursuing a broad modernization effort for border operations. It includes newer weapons, underground shelters, specialized high-altitude troops, drones, and anti-drone systems. Kapur said the force has made a major provision for modernization because many personnel still use weapons that have changed little since they joined.

The article gives two major funding figures. The ITBP is using Rs 400 crore in modernization funds, with 70 per cent spent on drones. A separate modernization scheme is worth Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 crore, and Rs 1,000 crore of it has been earmarked for drones.

The spending is intended to strengthen surveillance, protection, and combat capability. Every border-guarding battalion has one drone platoon, pilots are being trained, and the ITBP is making drones in-house. The article links anti-drone systems to the need to respond to changing warfare.

If face-offs continue, tensions along the Arunachal Pradesh section of the LAC may remain high. The article does not say that a war will follow, but it records ongoing encounters and Indian troop deployments intended to prevent escalation. Continued confrontations would therefore keep the border situation unsettled.

The immediate mechanism is repeated contact between patrols and local forces in areas where issues remain unresolved. Local commanders have held multiple meetings, and Corps Commander-level talks were convened at Wacha-Damai on September 6. These channels are designed to manage disputes before they become more serious.

The article also points to longer-term consequences for defense planning. The ITBP is building underground shelters, expanding drone and anti-drone capabilities, and creating specialized high-altitude commandos. These measures suggest that persistent face-offs require both diplomatic communication and stronger protection at border outposts.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is responsible for border guarding along China. Kapur said the force was raised as a mountain guerrilla force and received this border-guarding duty in 2004. Its personnel are therefore directly involved in difficult high-altitude areas and current face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh.

The ITBP is now changing its model. Kapur said guerrilla warfare is not needed in current times, so the force is creating specialized high-altitude mountain fighters. Shaurya Commando teams already exist in battalions, and more teams are being formed to create companies and eventually an elite battalion.

Kapur emphasized that this force will be different from the Indian Army. The article does not explain the Army’s specific role along the China border. It does show the ITBP seeking a distinct identity and capability for border guarding and high-altitude operations.

High-altitude borders are difficult to defend because operations take place in mountain terrain, where forces need specialized skills and protection. The article describes the ITBP as a mountain force and says it is creating a specialized high-altitude fighting capability. It also says troops standing on the ground can be targeted easily in modern warfare.

Underground shelters can protect personnel at border outposts during hostile fire. Specialized Shaurya Commando teams provide trained personnel for high-altitude operations. The ITBP has formed one team in every battalion and plans to build more, including a full elite battalion. These troops are intended to operate in the border environment.

Drones improve surveillance and provide another way to operate without exposing as many people. Anti-drone systems help counter similar threats. The ITBP has one drone platoon in every border-guarding battalion, is training pilots, and is making drones in-house, while major funds support this expansion.