In a major breakthrough, the central government and the Manipur state government signed a fresh agreement with Kuki-Zo groups on Thursday.
In the agreement, all the sides agreed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur, open National Highway-2 for free movement, and relocate militant camps. They also agreed on a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to Manipur, reduce the number of designated camps, relocate the weapons with nearest CRPF/BSF camps and stringent physical verification of militant cadres by security forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.
The agreement follows a series of meetings which were held in the national capital over the past few days between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of the Kuki-Zo Council.
This tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement has re-negotiated ground rules.
A Joint Monitoring Group will closely monitor enforcement of ground rules and violations will be dealt with firmly in future, including review of the SoO agreement, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
National Highway-2 To Be Opened
The sides agreed for the reopening of the National Highway-2 for free movement, according to the Union Home Ministry. “Kuki-Zo Council has given a commitment to cooperate with security forces deployed by the Government of India to maintain peace along NH-2,” MHA said in a statement. NH-2, a crucial lifeline connecting Manipur with Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast, had been blocked amid the tensions that erupted in the state in May 2023.
“Kuki-Zo Council has given a commitment to cooperate with security forces deployed by the Government of India to maintain peace along NH-2,” MHA said in a statement.
Apart from the opening of NH-2, the revised ground rules reiterated two key points that included “the territorial integrity of Manipur, and need for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to Manipur.”
The MHA also pointed that “Kuki National Organisation and United People’s Front have also agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict, reduce the number of designated camps, relocate the weapons with nearest Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) camps, and stringent physical verification of cadres by Security Forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.”