India says Chinese departures from established patrolling patterns disturb border conditions, after the ITBP chief described continuing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on October 23 said deviations by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns periodically disrupt conditions along the India-China border. The response followed remarks by Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Kapur about continuing confrontations at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred questions about the specific incidents to the Ministry of Defence. He did not provide a location-by-location account of the situation described by the ITBP chief, according to The New Indian Express’s report on the briefing.
What the ITBP chief said about Arunachal Pradesh
Addressing ITBP personnel in Rajasthan on October 22, Kapur said Indian and Chinese troops had faced off at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh in recent days and that the situation was continuing.
He also praised the performance of the force’s Shaurya commando teams during these encounters with China’s People’s Liberation Army.
NDTV’s account of his remarks reported that Kapur stressed the importance of drones and anti-drone systems for border preparedness. The report also cited unnamed sources who subsequently characterised his comments as relating to routine deployment and preparedness, rather than a specific incident.
MEA stresses dialogue and better border management
Jaiswal said India and China continue to use diplomatic and military channels to address unresolved issues and reduce the risk of misunderstandings along the Line of Actual Control, or LAC.
He added that both countries had agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to strengthen border management.
The ministry reiterated India’s position that peace along the frontier is essential for the wider relationship with China. Its response outlined the diplomatic approach but did not explain the operational details of the reported confrontations.
Congress seeks answers from the government
The remarks also prompted political criticism. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sought an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in Arunachal Pradesh and the government’s handling of relations with China, The Indian Express reported.
The public statements leave a distinction between Kapur’s account of continuing encounters and the MEA’s broader explanation of how border disagreements are managed. The ministry directed requests for further specifics to the Defence Ministry.
For related background, The InkWire has previously covered a separate diplomatic controversy involving an Arunachal Pradesh woman’s treatment at Shanghai airport.
