Nagalim Voice article calls for timeline, AFSPA repeal and self-determination mechanism
The NSCN (IM) has questioned the Government of India’s commitment to finding a “solution outside the box” to the Naga political issue, arguing that more than a decade after the 2015 Framework Agreement, the promise has yet to translate into a final political settlement.
The position was articulated in an unsigned article titled “India’s ‘Solution Outside the Box’: Commitment or Political Theater?”, published in the September 2026 issue of Nagalim Voice, the NSCN (IM)’s monthly bulletin.
The article argues that the expression “solution outside the box”, which became a defining phrase following the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) in 2015, was understood by the group as an indication that New Delhi would move beyond conventional constitutional arrangements in addressing the Naga political issue.
It, however, questions whether that commitment has been demonstrated in practice, stating that the Framework Agreement has not yet resulted in a final settlement.
The article maintains that the agreement recognised the “unique history” of the Nagas and argues that issues including sovereignty, the Naga national flag and constitution remain central to the political negotiations.
It also questions the concept of “shared sovereignty”, arguing that any such arrangement would have to go beyond existing constitutional provisions if it is to address the Naga political question in a meaningful manner.
On the territorial issue, the article points to the division of Naga-inhabited areas across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and argues that the demand for integration of these areas remains one of the major unresolved issues in the peace process.
The article further compares the Naga peace process with other political settlements, including the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, citing it as an example of an arrangement that went beyond conventional political structures through power-sharing, recognition of multiple identities and cross-border institutions.
The NSCN (IM) article also raises allegations concerning the security situation in the Northeast. Referring to the December 2021 Oting incident and the continuing conflict in Manipur, it alleges that India has pursued what it describes as a “proxy war” involving Kuki groups and alleges links between such groups and narco-terrorism.
The article argues that a genuine “solution outside the box” would require political mechanisms capable of addressing the Naga demand for self-determination rather than remaining within what it describes as the existing constitutional framework.
It calls for a clear implementation timeline for any eventual agreement and lists the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, a self-determination mechanism and engagement across the India-Myanmar boundary among measures it says would demonstrate genuine political commitment.
The article also questions the parallel negotiation process involving the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), arguing that separate negotiating tracks have weakened a unified Naga position.
It concludes by questioning whether the Government of India is prepared to reconsider what it describes as the underlying assumption that the Naga territories and political aspirations must remain within the existing Indian constitutional framework.
