Tensions along the India-China border have surged back into the political spotlight following a high-level official acknowledgement.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur confirmed that face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh have occurred on multiple occasions and remain active.
The revelation immediately drew a sharp political reaction, with the Congress party launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration over its handling of national security and foreign policy.
Inside the ITBP Chief’s Revelations
Speaking at an annual felicitation event for the force, DG Kapur praised the exceptional professionalism and grit of ITBP personnel—particularly highlighting the newly deployed Shaurya commando teams operating in the rugged terrain.
“Several such situations arose inside Arunachal Pradesh, when face-offs took place, and that is still ongoing. Our Shaurya commando teams are there, they have done very good work. This was also a new initiative,” Kapur stated.
Reflecting on the evolution of the border-guarding force, Kapur noted that while the ITBP was originally established as a mountain guerrilla unit, it transitioned into a conventional border force. Moving forward, the focus remains firmly on cementing its identity as an elite high-altitude combat and specialised mountain-fighting entity.
Congress Targets Centre Over ‘Deafening Silence’
Reacting strongly to the developments, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the central government of maintaining a “deafening silence” regarding ongoing border friction while making calculated concessions to Beijing.
Taking to social media, Ramesh highlighted local reports of lost patrolling points in areas like Taksing—drawing parallels to the prolonged standoffs witnessed in Ladakh. He also raised alarms over China’s persistent moves to rename towns in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a massive 60,000-MW dam that poses severe downstream ecological and water security threats.
“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… on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment,” Ramesh posted.
Economic Concerns and Past Precedents
Beyond tactical border updates, the opposition broad-based its critique to encompass economic security and strategic disclosures:
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Staggering Trade Imbalance: Ramesh pointed out that India’s trade deficit with China ballooned to a record $112 billion in 2025–26, up from $99 billion the previous fiscal year, arguing that the influx has crippled domestic MSMEs and turned Make in India into Import from China.
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Historical Retrospects: The Congress leader revisited PM Modi’s post-Galwan remarks from June 19, 2020, claiming the nation continues to pay the price for a perceived political “clean chit” given to Beijing.
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Military Discourses: He further cited recent public controversies and disclosures involving senior military leadership regarding cross-border alignments and tactical operational directives.
As tactical friction persists along the high-altitude frontiers of the Northeast, the latest disclosures by the ITBP chief have turned up the heat on New Delhi, ensuring that national security and border integrity remain front and centre in the national political discourse.
