New Delhi (India) October 23: The DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Shatrujeet Kapur said face-offs with Chinese soldiers were still taking place at different spots along the border of Arunachal. This is the first time any government official has acknowledged that face-offs are taking place along the north-eastern border of Arunachal, which has been on the boil in recent months.

"Recently, a situation developed in Arunachal Pradesh where face-offs took place at several locations, and some of these situations are still ongoing. Our Shaurya Commando teams deployed there have performed exceptionally well," he said.

ITBP Chief Backs Drone Technology

Kapur said it is a challenge for us to fight conventional war with China which has increased and modernised its military power substantially. He also said that we can compete with China with the use of modern defence technology including drones. DG Kapur said for instance Ukraine and showed how it has put up stiff resistance against a military power like Russia by using drone technology.

“To face China through traditional ways would be tough now. Because China has invested heavily in the modernisation of its forces and has moved ahead. But through drones, small nations can fight bigger nations, as we have seen in the Russia-Ukraine and Iran-USA conflicts. Every day, Russia is sacrificing 10000-15000 soldiers every month,” he said.

The neighbours have gone through multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks in recent years to resolve border tensions. But border and troop deployments still remain sources of tension.

Warning Against Social Media

Talking at the felicitation function in Alwar, ITBP chief Kapur asked the troops not to consume alcohol and get honey trapped on social media.

“Those who make reels should be careful. I would say avoid social media. Our adversaries keep an eye on your social media accounts. Even when you share one photo on your profile, they get a lot of information. Do not talk to people you do not know. Use social media and apps, but don’t get used,” he said.

Congress Questions Government Silence

Criticising the government for giving in to China and not tackling issues related to border skirmishes in Arunachal, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that India was also denied access to some of the patrolling points in the region.

Writing on social media platform X, Ramesh shared the Director General of the ITBP commending the work of the force during the recent face-off with China's PLA. Questioning the silence of the government on the alleged instances, he asserted that Prime Minister Modi had not spoken on the matter.

"While the self-styled Vishwaguru's calibrated concessions to China continue, the DG, ITBP, has lauded - and rightly so - its performance in recent face-offs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh, on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment," he said.

"Locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost once again, as in Ladakh. China continues to rename our towns in Arunachal Pradesh and is building a 60,000-MW dam that threatens our ecological and water security," he added.