The LAC is a live border with China, where the threat is of intrusions and encroachments by the PLA

Lt Gen Pradeep Bali Retd

The recent statements about the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China by the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) can at best be described as unusual. Speaking at a felicitation ceremony of this Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), in Alwar, he mentioned about faceoffs at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and the stellar role being played by commando outfits of this force. Interestingly, he also stated that “the ITBP was raised as a mountain guerrilla force” and that now “a specialised high-altitude mountain fighting force is being set up, which will be different from the army.”