Centre Extends Ceasefire Agreement With 3 Nagaland Groups By Another Year

The Centre has extended its ceasefire pact with three Nagaland groups by a year.

Guwahati: The Government of India has extended the Ceasefire Agreement with three factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) by another year.

The Ceasefire Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Neopao Konyak/Kitovi) (NSCN-NK) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Reformation (NSCN-R) will be extended with effect from April 28, 2023 to April 27, 2024.

On the other hand, the Ceasefire Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K-Khango) will be extended from April 18, 2023 to April 17, 2024.

These Agreements were signed on April 6, 2023.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is a Naga nationalist and separatist group operating mainly in Northeast India, with minor activities in northwest Myanmar.

The main aim of the organisation is to establish a sovereign Naga state, "Nagalim", which would consist of all the areas belonging to the Naga people in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar. 

There are two major factions of the NSCN, NSCN-K, which was led by SS Khaplang and NSCN-IM, which was led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. Smaller factions comprise the rest of the NSCN.

In 2015, in response to an attack on an army convoy in Manipur, India designated the NSCN-K as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. India's Ministry of Home Affairs labels NSCN a major insurgent group.

The NSCN is active in the Northeastern region, with the group having its strongest influence and presence in Nagaland and the hill districts of Manipur.

It additionally maintains a presence in Nagaland's neighbouring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Outside India, the NSCN has operated in the Naga-inhabited regions of northern Myanmar.

The government of India had signed a framework agreement with the major Naga group NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a permanent solution.

However, the talks with the NSCN-IM have been inconclusive as the group has been insisting on a separate Naga flag and constitution, a demand rejected by the central government.

Separately, the government is also holding peace parleys with splinter groups of the NSCN after entering into ceasefire agreements.

The groups which have entered into ceasefire agreements are NSCN-NK, NSCN-R, and NSCN K-Khango.