Naga peace talks were held for the first time in Nagaland today.
The interlocutor for Naga peace talks, R N Ravi on Monday held talks with all the stake holders involved in the Naga peace talk. The development is considered significant as the political negotiation - which have been taking place since two decades - took place for the first time inside Nagaland.
The peace talk started in 1997 with NSCN(IM) in foreign countries; it was held for the first time in India in New Delhi in 2002. Since then over 80 rounds of discussion have taken place, resulting in the signing of the framework agreement between Centre and leadership of NSCN(IM) in 2015.
Both Centre and NSCN(IM) leadership have kept the details of the 2015 framework agreement under wrap. However, there are strong indications that the final peace deal might be signed in December this year ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Nagaland in 2018.
A larger section of Naga tribal groups are upset since the other Naga rebel groups and civil society groups were not called for discussion.
NSCN-K, which had unilaterally abrogated it's ceasefire agreement with Centre in 2015, has since been active in attacking security forces in Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
In this backdrop, today's meeting at Dimapur is seen as a crucial one. The ongoing Naga political dialogue is seen as Centre's reach out to the larger Naga society before the final deal beyond NSCN(IM). Besides NSCN-IM, six NNPGs have also been invited to involve in the peace talks before a final settlement is achieved.
The renewed efforts will also put preassure on NSCN-K to join talks.
The core issue of the peace talks has been the demand for creation of Nagalim, by integrating Naga inhabitated areas in northeast.
People in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam see this demand as a threat to their territorial integrity.
Last week, all the three BJP-ruled states have reiterated their stand of not parting with an inch of their land.