Govt agrees to hold talks with Nagas on ‘substantive’ issues

Having agreed to the extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire by six months unlike the previous practice of one year, the Centre and the NS...

Having agreed to the extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire by six months unlike the previous practice of one year, the Centre and the NSCN(I-N) have decided to hold talks on ‘‘substantive’’ issues, with the Naga insurgents linking the cessation of fighting to progress in the parleys.

The timing of the next round of talks will depend on NSCN(I-M), Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who led the government delegation at the four-day talks with NSCN(I-M) leaders in Bangkok this week, said on his return here.

‘‘We have been able to extend the ceasefire by six months. We were not able to take up issues in a substantive manner over the next six months, we will try to hold substantive talks,’’ he said.

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Fernandes, who sounded hopeful about the possible date for the next round of talks, however, refused to specify the issues to be discussed, including the Naga group’s key demand for unification of Naga-inhabitated areas of Northeastern states.

When asked about the possible date for next

round of talks, the Minister said, ‘‘Whenever the NSCN(I-M) want. We are ready to talk. It will depend on them.’’

The Naga rebels agreed to extend the ceasefire only for six months as they felt that ‘‘sufficient progress’’ was not being made in the talks. Sources in the Naga camp had said prior to the Bangkok talks that unless the Indian government took ‘‘positive’’ steps on the Naga issue the group saw no need to extend the ceasefire agreement.

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