ITBP chief confirms face-offs with Chinese troops in Arunachal; MEA blames patrol deviations

Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said on 22 October that Indian and Chinese forces were in face-offs at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh. "In the past few days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues," he said at the force's Himveer Samman Samaroh in Alwar, Rajasthan. Reports called it the first public acknowledgement by a senior security official that the confrontations were continuing.Sources:1The Wire: Face-Offs with Chinese Troops Under Way at Several Points in Arunachal, Says ITBP Chief, The Wire, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Outlook: India-China Border Tensions: Face-Offs Continue At Multiple Sites In Arunachal Pradesh, Says ITBP Chief, Outlook, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)3PTI via NewsDrum: Chinese patrol deviations disturb border situation, MEA says after ITBP chief's Arunachal disclosure, PTI via NewsDrum, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

Kapur did not name the locations. Citing government sources, The Hindu reported that the most prominent stand-off has been at Asaphila near Taksing in Upper Subansiri district since late July, with PLA personnel pitching tents about 6 to 7 km inside India's perception of the Line of Actual Control near Maja, and that India has increased its deployment there. Kapur said the newly raised Shaurya commandos played an exemplary role.Sources:1The Wire: Face-Offs with Chinese Troops Under Way at Several Points in Arunachal, Says ITBP Chief, The Wire, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Outlook: India-China Border Tensions: Face-Offs Continue At Multiple Sites In Arunachal Pradesh, Says ITBP Chief, Outlook, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

At its weekly briefing on 23 October, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the situation "gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns", and that both sides use diplomatic and military mechanisms and had agreed to discuss improving understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas. He referred operational questions to the Defence Ministry. The two sides held corps commander-level talks at Wacha-Damai in Arunachal Pradesh on 6 and 7 September.Sources:1The Wire: Face-Offs with Chinese Troops Under Way at Several Points in Arunachal, Says ITBP Chief, The Wire, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)3PTI via NewsDrum: Chinese patrol deviations disturb border situation, MEA says after ITBP chief's Arunachal disclosure, PTI via NewsDrum, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked the government to explain the confrontations and say whether Indian patrolling rights had been restored, and Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "deafening silence". CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said forces were being used against protesters in Delhi instead of guarding the border.Sources:1The Wire: Face-Offs with Chinese Troops Under Way at Several Points in Arunachal, Says ITBP Chief, The Wire, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)2Outlook: India-China Border Tensions: Face-Offs Continue At Multiple Sites In Arunachal Pradesh, Says ITBP Chief, Outlook, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)3PTI via NewsDrum: Chinese patrol deviations disturb border situation, MEA says after ITBP chief's Arunachal disclosure, PTI via NewsDrum, 23 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)