There is a mood for an early Solution to the eight-decade old Naga insurgency. Things have been put on a fast track. This is refreshing.

On July 17th at Dimapur (Nagaland), central government’s peace emissary A K Mishra held important rounds of parleys with leaders of as many as six faction of Naga underground – NSCN.
“Inclusivity is paramount and hopefully all our other Naga entities ... leadership will eventually strengthen the common process. This meeting of 17th July 2025, will go a long way because I sense a strong socio-political base for early Solution has been reignited,” G Naga, an eminent Naga underground functionary said
The Naga talks had begun in 1997 when I K Gujral was the Prime Minister. In the last decade under Narendra Modi, this is the second major push for an "inclusive Solution" to the eight-decade old Naga insurgency involving all key stakeholders based on a common draft and joint negotiation.
In 2019, the talks had made progress but the NSCN-IM flagged off two new demands – the separate Naga Constitution and the Flag and the entire process was delayed. Chances are that now the uncomfortable issues will be avoided and the stakeholders will move ahead.
After the July 17 meeting of six NSCN factions with Mishra, now all eyes are on the next course of actions from New Delhi. In all likelihood, the centre is likely to invite more than six groups including various factions of Naga National Council (NNC) and NSCN-IM and NSCN-Nikki to join the common platform. Reportedly, the Govt of India is also working on a Common Draft to facilitate a quicker signing ceremony.
In fact, the NNPGs led by N Kitovi Zhimomi and NSCN-IM led by aging Thuingaleng Muivah have inked preliminary pacts – the Agreed Position (2017) and the Framework Agreement (2015) respectively.
G Naga is the Supervisor for Ceasefire Supervisory Board and a part of Ceasefire Monitoring Group. He is very positive about the contents of the Agreed Position and says:
“We handled issues very carefully during negotiations and every negotiated point was put to paper, signed and sealed. Our respected leader and guide NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi took a bold step. If the Govt of India recognises Naga historical and political rights, Nagas must reciprocate in equal measure and respect New Delhi’s position. Only then, Naga sentiment will be respected.”
The NNPG in effect laid the foundation for an Inclusive and pragmatic Solution to Naga problem wayback in 2017, says G Naga.
The fact of the matter is that the Agreed Position inked in 2017 has a “new historical” setting prepared for Naga people be it in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh or Assam.
“I can vouch for it that once the Agreement is implemented, someday our people will realise that it was the only practical and historically correct decision at a given time,” insists G Naga.
A section of Nagas have been accusing Govt of India of following a divide and rule policy and delaying the Solution. For a change the central Govt has this time taken an initiative to bring together six groups for an early inclusive solution based on a common draft based on the Agreed Position and the Framework Agreement.
There is a consensus on the new approach and agreement to continue the initiative in future.
With a complex issue like that of Nagas vis-a-vis the political problem often called insurgency and militancy; the long term War is more important. Hence as talks continue often giving the impression of some deadlocks; it is important to focus on the ultimate goal.
The goal – according to Govt of India - here is of mutual trust and ensuring Peace and Development. This means as of now the traditional 'fish eye' - as was the case with Arjun in Mahabharat - in the complex situation is the Solution. That's the singular and ultimate goal.
The analogy of epic hero Arjun and his 'fish eye' story ought to be understood in a little different context.
Other than Arjun, all Pandavas and their cousins saw the tree and the bird. In our context; the 'tree and bird' is the knowledge and consciousness of a confused human mind. The volumes of information and the ability to analyse things that would force the protagonists and stakeholders to control, predict and shape the 'outcomes'.
But excessive information also creates a chaos. The focus is then diverted.
In the case of Naga issue; therefore people started talking about everything under the sky - from corruption to extortion and ethnic differences and tribalism; but the need for an early Solution was almost pushed to the second fiddle.
There is already a powerful lobby who are called the Status quo club which does not want Solution.
The 'excessive information' is actually only a creation of a tremendous amount of chaos, confusion and noise, on which human minds tend to obsess.
Now the Govt of India has taken upon itself the task of bringing all stakeholders (various Naga groups) under one roof at the same negotiating table. This is new and it takes the 28-year-old Naga negotiations to a very crucial stage.
So, hopes were reposed on Nagaland state government and the civil society. As things did not bring expected dividend, now the Modi government wants to handle it differently at its own level.
There is a special significance as the July 17th deliberations will create pressure for other groups that under the Narendra Modi-led dispensation, there is no alternative to the negotiating table.
And the time is ripe to wrap up the 28-year-old parleys that got underway in 1997.
It goes without saying that the multiple factions and internal conflicts within the Naga national movement have indeed hampered Nagas (themselves) the most.
These divisions, often along tribal lines and fueled by competing political agendas and reports of violence between factions have weakened the movement's ability to negotiate effectively.
Patience does pay. That's a very old saying. So, now everyone expects that all Naga stakeholders will seriously commit to the process and come forward. Individual differences will always be there but the truth is Solution and peace is the language on the ground.

Email:----------------------nirendelhi@gmail.com