Naga talks in Delhi; NSCN-IM meets Centre's interlocutor R S Pandey

NEW DELHI: Naga rebel group NSCN-IM and Centre's interlocutor R S Pandey have engaged in informal talks to accelerate the ongoing peace process and find an honourable solution to the vexed issue.

A delegation of NSCN-IM, led by 'general secretary' Thuingaleng Muivah, met Pandey here yesterday and discussed some of the proposals moved to find out a mutually acceptable political settlement based on the uniqueness of Naga history.

"We have met yesterday. It was an informal meeting. We have discussed some issues but I am not in a position to disclose now," Pandey told PTI.

Asked whether there was a possibility of finding a solution to the Naga issue within this year, Pandey said, "It is not good to announce something before hand. Let's see."

In July, the government and the NSCN-IM had announced that they "narrowed" down differences and were working out a settlement in the "shortest possible time".

Sources said under the proposed peace, the government would provide maximum autonomy to Nagaland under various provisions of the Constitution but is unlikely to accept the demand of the unification of Naga-inhabited areas.

The Naga group has been holding parleys with Pandey to iron out differences on several vexed issues.

In a joint statement, Pandey and Muivah had said while the differences between the two parties have narrowed, some of the proposals would require further negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable solution.