[9] Khathing led the first armed forces into Tawang that established Indian control in the region under the direct supervision of the then Assam governor Jairamdas Daulatram.
[5] Under his leadership, two platoons of Assam Rifles took possession of Tawang in 1950, establishing Indian administrative control in the Bum La area along McMahon Line.
[6] In 1961, he became the first Indian citizen to study at the National Defence College, New Delhi and completed the course in its second batch.
[5] He also worked as the Chief Civil Liaison Officer of IV Corps, Tezpur[6] and his contributions are reported in the formation of Sashastra Seema Bal, a paramilitary force established following the 1962 war.
[6] He also served as a member of the committee to finalise the 16-point agreement that led to the Shillong Accord of 1975 and the formation of the state of Nagaland.
[5][6][14] Later, the Queen of the United Kingdom honoured him with the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).