The NSCN-IM talk team led by V S Atem arrived in New Delhi today to hold talks with the Government of India (GoI) representative A K Mishra.

The meeting is slated to take place on 20 September.

This development comes after the Core Committee on Naga Political issue (CCoNPI) met the NSCN-IM leadership on 17 September at Chümoukedima Police Complex. The committee was entrusted by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to impress upon the NSCN-IM to resume talks during their meeting held in Delhi on 12 September.

The Core Committee on Saturday had requested the NSCN-IM to resume talks with the GoI. The NSCN-IM agreed to resume talks on the condition that the talks should be based on the Framework Agreement and the formulation papers submitted by the then Peace Interlocutor R N Ravi and A K Mishra.

Sources informed that the Core Committee had also suggested to the NSCN-IM that once both the negotiating parties arrive at a mutual understanding on any of the competency points, they should both consider the matter as concluded and not keep on revisiting the issue but move on to other contentious points in order to avoid misunderstandings between the two parties.

The flag will be the main contentious issue. All other points can be resolved amicably if they resume the talk based on the Framework Agreement and competency clauses of both the NSCN and R N Ravi, the source added.

With all eyes now on the talks to be held, we will have to wait and watch whether the GoI and NSCN-IM will achieve a breakthrough and bring about a lasting solution to the protracted Naga issue.