Cautious Optimism – Naga Peace Talks
There is a mood for an early Solution to the eight-decade old Naga insurgency. Things have been put on a fast track. This is refreshing.
On July 17th at Dimapur (Nagaland), central government’s peace emissary A K Mishra held important rounds of parleys with leaders of as many as six faction of Naga underground – NSCN.
“Inclusivity is paramount and hopefully all our other Naga entities ... leadership will eventually strengthen the common process. This meeting of 17th July 2025, will go a long way because I sense a strong socio-political base for early Solution has been reignited,” G Naga, an eminent Naga underground functionary, told this blogger.
The Naga talks had begun in 1997 when I K Gujral was the Prime Minister. In the last decade under Narendra Modi, this is the second major push for an "inclusive Solution" to the eight-decade old Naga insurgency involving all key stakeholders based on a common draft and joint negotiation.
In 2019, the talks had made progress but the NSCN-IM flagged off two new demands – the separate Naga Constitution and the Flag and the entire process was delayed. Chances are that now the uncomfortable issues will be avoided and the stakeholders will move ahead.
After the July 17 meeting of six NSCN factions with Mishra, now all eyes are on the next course of actions from New Delhi.
The centre now must invite more than six groups including various factions of Naga National Council (NNC) and NSCN-IM and NSCN-Nikki to join the common platform.
Reportedly, the Govt of India is also working on a Common Draft to facilitate a quicker signing ceremony.
In fact, the NNPGs led by N Kitovi Zhimomi and NSCN-IM led by aging Thuingaleng Muivah have inked preliminary pacts – the Agreed Position (2017) and the Framework Agreement (2015) respectively.
G Naga is the Supervisor for Ceasefire Supervisory Board and a part of Ceasefire Monitoring Group. He is very positive about the contents of the Agreed Position and says:
“We handled issues very carefully during negotiations and every negotiated point was put to paper, signed and sealed. But in 2025, there is, however, reason to be hopeful is that a Consensus is being built up in favour of an early Solution to Naga issue.
This is happening notwithstanding the fact that some players have already earned their reputation as being Status Quoists.
Let us dismiss such elements as the negative factors that have emerged from the churning. But others would give us some reasons to be optimistic. That optimism comes from the fact that 'pressure' is being built up on all stakeholders including the Govt of India that everyone should work to create a Common Platform and also prepare a Common Draft.
Our respected leader and guide NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi took a bold step. If the Govt of India recognises Naga historical and political rights, Nagas must reciprocate in equal measure and respect New Delhi’s position. Only then, Naga sentiment will be respected.”
The NNPG in effect laid the foundation for an Inclusive and pragmatic Solution to Naga problem wayback in 2017, says G Naga.
The fact of the matter is that the Agreed Position inked in 2017 has a “new historical” setting prepared for Naga people be it in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh or Assam.
“I can vouch for it that once the Agreement is implemented, someday our people will realise that it was the only practical and historically correct decision at a given time,” insists G Naga.
A section of Nagas have been accusing Govt of India of following a divide and rule policy and delaying the Solution.
For a change the central Govt has this time taken an initiative to bring together six groups for an early inclusive solution based on a common draft based on the Agreed Position and the Framework Agreement.
But as we proceed further on the subject, there is a need to analyse various pros and cons involved in the entire process vis-a-vis Common Draft and Common Platform.
The Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh were never so hardliners about being anti-India.
This spirit of understanding and a greater sense of unity of purpose with Delhi is much appreciable. The Nagas in Arunachal Pradesh want an early signing of the peace pact and they believe this will boost the developmental works in their parts of the world.
In Manipur; Nagas face some predicament as key leaders especially from Maos and Tangkhuls met NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and other top brass of the organisation last year.
The Kuki-Meitei conflict has built up an extraordinary situation for Nagas in Manipur too. The local community leaders in Ukhrul and Kamjong regions realise the gravity of the situation pretty well.
Should Kukis and Meiteis work out some roadmaps for mutual co-existence as guided by the Union Home Ministry, the Nagas of Manipur would never like to be left abandoned.
Moreover, before 2023 May; Manipur's strides for development have been unique under the political and administrative leadership of the BJP. It was certainly a case of Double Engine at work. In general, Nagas of Manipur have a track record of being pragmatic and thus this factor is something the mandarins and various agencies in Delhi should try to make use of.
Now the Govt of India has taken upon itself the task of bringing all stakeholders (various Naga groups) under one roof at the same negotiating table. This is new and it takes the 28-year-old Naga negotiations to a very crucial stage.
So, hopes were reposed on Nagaland state government and the civil society. As things did not bring expected dividend, now the Modi government wants to handle it differently at its own level.
There is a special significance as the July 17th deliberations will create pressure for other groups that under the Narendra Modi-led dispensation, there is no alternative to the negotiating table.
And the time is ripe to wrap up the 28-year-old parleys that got underway in 1997.
It goes without saying that the multiple factions and internal conflicts within the Naga national movement have indeed hampered Nagas (themselves) the most.
These divisions, often along tribal lines and fueled by competing political agendas and reports of violence between factions have weakened the movement's ability to negotiate effectively.
ends
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