Quick answer: On 22 October 2026, ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said Indian and Chinese troops were in face-offs at select points along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh that “are still continuing.” A day later the MEA said border calm is disturbed when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns, and that both sides will discuss improving understanding of the LAC.
Arunachal Pradesh jumped up India’s Google Trends list on Friday, and this time it was not about tourism or elections. It was about the border. A rare public remark from the chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), followed by a carefully worded response from the Ministry of External Affairs, put the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) back in the headlines.
Here is a clear, sourced account of what was said, who said it, and why it matters.
What the ITBP chief said
According to The Times of India, ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said publicly on Thursday that Indian and Chinese troops had lately been locked in face-offs at select points along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, and that these “are still continuing.”
He also praised the force’s “Shaurya” commandos deployed on the LAC, saying they had done an “excellent job” in handling the face-offs.
That kind of on-the-record confirmation from a serving border force chief is not common. It is why the story spread so fast.
How the MEA responded
On Friday, 23 October, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not go into specifics and referred questions about the face-off itself to the defence ministry. He did, however, set out India’s position:
“As we have noted in the past, the situation in India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns.”
Jaiswal added that the two countries had agreed to discuss ways to improve understanding of the LAC “in appropriate areas” for better border management. Public broadcaster News On AIR carried that point as its headline.
He also said both sides continue to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.
Key facts
- Who flagged it: ITBP DG Shatrujeet Kapur, on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
- Where: Select points along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Status: Face-offs described as “still continuing.”
- Government response: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Friday, 23 October.
- Agreed next step: Talks on improving understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas.
- ITBP modernisation: 70% of the Rs 400 crore allocated by the Home Ministry for the force’s modernisation is earmarked for drone warfare capabilities, Kapur said.
Why drones came up
The most forward-looking part of Kapur’s remarks was about technology. He said “conventional” military resources and infrastructure were not enough to take on the People’s Liberation Army, which he described as having gone through a massive upgrade, making China a “very strong adversary.”
His answer is drones and anti-drone systems. According to The Times of India, he said ITBP has added drone platoons to all its border units and is raising more Shaurya commando platoons trained in mountain warfare, new-generation weapons and unarmed combat. “Drones can pose a challenge as well as present an advantage,” he said.
He also argued that ITBP should see itself as a high-altitude fighting force, distinct from both the Army and other central armed police forces. That is a significant statement about how the border may be guarded in the coming years.
The diplomatic backdrop
The timing matters. India and China have been working to normalise relations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, in 2024. The two leaders met again last month. The Times of India reported that at that meeting Modi stressed the need for both sides to respect existing border agreements and understandings, and both expressed commitment to a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable” resolution of the boundary question.
The MEA repeated a line that New Delhi has used often: peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential for the overall development of ties. In other words, India is signalling that better trade and diplomatic contact cannot be separated from what happens on the LAC.
The political reaction
The opposition was quick to respond. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, citing the ITBP chief’s remarks, asked whether the pre-May 2020 status quo had been restored in Ladakh and whether Indian troops could patrol up to points such as Shera-5 in Arunachal Pradesh. He called for an all-party delegation, including opposition members, to visit Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Congress also pointed to India’s trade deficit with China, which it put at $113 billion.
The government has not responded to those specific demands in the reporting so far.
What to watch next
Any defence ministry statement
Since the MEA passed specific questions to the defence ministry, any detail on the location or scale of the face-offs would likely come from there.
The proposed LAC discussions
Watch for dates or formats for the talks on “improving understanding” of the LAC. Differing perceptions of where the line runs have been at the root of many past face-offs.
ITBP’s drone push
The Rs 400 crore modernisation plan, with most of it going to drones, is a concrete programme worth following through budget and procurement news.
FAQ
Is there an India-China face-off in Arunachal Pradesh right now?
The ITBP chief said on 22 October 2026 that face-offs at select points along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh “are still continuing.” The MEA did not give specifics and referred the matter to the defence ministry.
What did the MEA say about the LAC?
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the border situation gets disturbed when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns, and that both sides agreed to discuss improving understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas.
Who is Shatrujeet Kapur?
He is the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the force that guards India’s border with China.
Why is ITBP focusing on drones?
Kapur said conventional resources were not enough against a modernised PLA. He said 70% of the Rs 400 crore modernisation allocation is earmarked for drone warfare capabilities.