New Delhi: Confrontations between Indian and Chinese troops continue at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said, highlighting the need to modernise border defence capabilities, expand drone warfare infrastructure and construct underground shelters.
Speaking at the annual Himveer Samman Samaroh in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, Kapur confirmed that face-offs had occurred at several locations along the northeastern frontier in recent days and that the situation remained ongoing.
The remarks mark the first official confirmation of the scale of the renewed tensions along the Arunachal Pradesh border since July.
According to government sources, Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a stand-off near Asaphila, close to Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh, since late July. Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops reportedly pitched tents at an elevated location around six to seven kilometres within India’s perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), near the Maja company operating base in Upper Subansiri district.
The confrontation reportedly began during routine patrolling in July, when troops from both sides came face to face near Maja. Although they initially withdrew following a brief encounter, Chinese troops returned in larger numbers days later and established temporary positions. India has subsequently increased its deployment along the border.
Kapur said the ITBP’s newly raised Shaurya commandos had played an exemplary role in the continuing confrontations. He added that the force was developing a specialised high-altitude mountain fighting capability, with plans to raise a full battalion of Shaurya commandos.
The ITBP, originally established as a mountain guerrilla force, was assigned border-guarding responsibilities along the China frontier in 2004.
The developments come despite a series of high-level engagements between New Delhi and Beijing since July. These include the August 6 meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, the August 26 talks between the two countries’ Special Representatives on the boundary question, and the first Corps Commander-level meeting between the two armies in the eastern sector on September 6.
Emphasising the importance of technological modernisation, Kapur said the ITBP’s existing weapons were around 50 years old and that conventional capabilities alone might not be sufficient to address China’s expanding military infrastructure and advanced weaponry.
He stressed that drones and counter-drone systems would be crucial to future warfare. The ITBP has allocated 70% of its Rs 400-crore modernisation funds to drones, established drone platoons in border-guarding battalions and begun training drone pilots. A further Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for drones under a separate modernisation programme worth Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.
Kapur also announced plans to establish underground shelters along the China border over the next three years, with every border outpost expected to have as many underground structures as above-ground facilities.
Pilot projects are underway to develop permanent underground defences equipped with adequate ventilation, drainage and sanitation facilities, he said, adding that such infrastructure would be critical in a potential high-intensity conflict.
