Ceasefire with NSCN-K extended for one more year

NEW DELHI: The ceasefire agreement between Naga insurgent group NSCN (Khaplang) and the government has been extended for one more year beginning today.

The peace pact is in operation between the government of India and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) for last 13 years and its validity was reviewed today.

"It was decided by the government of India to extend the ceasefire with NSCN-K for a further period of one year," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, Shambhu Singh, and supervisor, Cease Fire Supervisory Board of NSCN-K, Y Wangtin.

The Centre and the NSCN-K had signed the ceasefire pact on April 27, 2001, and since then they have been extending the truce every year.

The government has entered into truce with the other dominant Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM in 1997 and since then more than 80 rounds of talks were held between the Centre and NSCN led by outfit's Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah without concrete outcome in the last 16 years of truce.

Prior to signing of the ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) in July 31, 1997, the Centre had assured the outfit that it would not engage in dialogue with other Naga outfits and stated that the NSCN (I-M) was the only legitimate Naga group.

The NSCN (K) has been arguing that it is the only legitimate outfit which can represent Nagas living in India and Myanmar but the Centre was not willing to engage in dialogue with S S Khaplang, who is a Burmese national.

The outfit has two designated camps in India -- at Suruhoto in Zunheboto district and in Mon district.