| Kibithu | |
| Other Name: | Kibithoo |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | India Arunachal Pradesh#India |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates: | 28.2803°N 97.0178°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Anjaw district |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Elevation M: | 1240 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | English |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +05:30 |
| Iso Code: | IN-AR |
Kibithu, also spelled Kibithoo, is a village in Arunachal Pradesh in Anjaw district, India. It is one of the easternmost permanently populated towns of India, located on the LAC (line of actual control) at 28.2803°N 97.0178°W. It is nearly 70 km north of district headquarter at Hawai, nearly 15 km south of India-China LAC (Kaho), and 40 km west of Diphu Pass near India-China-Myanmar tri-junction. The Lohit River enters India north of Kibithu at Kaho. Nearest air connectivity is 20 km in the south at Walong airstrip in Walong. It is considered India's first village.[1]
Many Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives there before slaying approximately 4000 Chinese troops at Namti in the Battle of Walong. The Chinese army still has a sizable deployment of troops opposite Kibithu Tatu, Tithang and at Rongto Chu valley west of Tithang (Rima). The entire Chinese deployment opposite Kibithu is maintained via the Rau transit point. Prior to 1962 Indians were supplying rice and other rations from Kibithu to Rima cooperative for Tibetan villagers. These rations were ultimately consumed by Chinese People's Liberation Army troops during their deployment before 1962 war.[2]
The 2000adj=midNaNadj=mid proposed Mago-Thingbu to Vijaynagar Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway along the McMahon Line,[3] [4] [5] [6] (will intersect with the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor Highway) and will pass through this district, alignment map of which can be seen here and here.[7]
It is also one of the five officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting points between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps in defusing stand-offs.[8]
