NEW DELHI: India is “very strong” and its intelligence capabilities have grown significantly, Arunachal Pradesh minister Balo Raja said, citing the spy thriller Dhurandhar while questioning ITBP chief Shatrujeet Singh Kapur’s reported remarks on continuing face-offs with Chinese forces along the border.Speaking to reporters in Itanagar on Tuesday, Raja, who holds the urban affairs, land management and civil aviation portfolios, questioned why a senior officer would make statements that could create an impression of India being weak.“Why make statements like that when you are a DG? Why perceive yourself as weak? India is very strong. You must have seen the ‘Dhurandhar’ movie; watch it, and you will see how much India’s intelligence capabilities have grown,” Raja said.His remarks come amid a political controversy over Kapur’s reported comments that face-offs at several locations along the frontier in Arunachal Pradesh were continuing.Addressing ITBP personnel at an event in Alwar, Rajasthan, on October 22, Kapur reportedly spoke about the confrontations along the India-China border and praised the force’s newly raised Shaurya commando teams for their role in handling them.He also stressed the need to modernise weapons and equipment and strengthen the force’s ability to respond to evolving security challenges, including drone warfare.Kapur said traditional methods of warfare were no longer sufficient to counter China, which he described as India’s “biggest adversary”.The reported remarks triggered political reactions, with opposition leaders seeking clarity from the Centre on the border situation and the circumstances surrounding the face-offs.The comments came as the ITBP stepped up its modernisation efforts, focusing on emerging warfare technologies, specialised training and improved operational capabilities.Earlier, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) clarified the government’s position after reports of Kapur’s remarks about continuing face-offs with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Arunachal Pradesh.During a briefing on Friday, the MEA said that the situation along the India-China border was occasionally disrupted when Chinese forces deviated from established patrolling patterns.“Insofar as the specifics are concerned, I would refer you to the Ministry of Defence. As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns. Both sides continue to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the Line of Actual Control,” the MEA said.
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“The two sides have also agreed to discuss ways to improve understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas for better border management. I would also like to emphasise that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” it added.