The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has called for unity among all Naga political groups and civil society bodies, urging collective support for the proposed Pan Naga Hoho as a pathway toward an inclusive Indo Naga political settlement.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the GNF stated that Naga political groups and the Naga people wherever they reside possess an earnest desire to arrive at a lasting political settlement with India and usher in a new era of peace and development. It expressed regret that the Government of India has been unable to bring about an amicable solution even after 29 years of negotiations. The statement claimed that a potential agreement once appeared within reach until former Interlocutor RN Ravi was “influenced by elements opposed to a Naga peace settlement,” thereby sowing division among the Nagas. It asserted, “The Indo-Naga political solution is not beyond reach; it becomes attainable the moment the Nagas stand united, and impossible the moment we stand divided.”
The GNF noted that during nearly three decades of dialogue, no Naga individual or organization opposed unity and reconciliation in principle and all stakeholders consistently supported an inclusive solution. However, it said approaches grounded in “regional and state-centric interests” emerged after the Government of India, through its interlocutor, proposed competencies aimed at resolving the Naga political issue through the framework of a Pan Naga Hoho platform.
“We believe that the GoI proposed this in recognition of the unique history and situation of the Nagas, a statutory body, to be known as the Pan Naga Hoho (PNH), envisioned as an alternative to physical integration,” the GNF said.
Stating that the Pan Naga Hoho has since become a contentious issue for certain sections, the Forum said it requires serious and objective consideration. It maintained that the Pan Naga Hoho should be a well defined institutional mechanism for development of Naga areas and for advancing the long-term aspiration of Naga integration, rather than being reduced merely to a cultural body. GNF said such a structure would directly benefit Naga people across regions and administrative boundaries and serve as a precursor to the broader aspirations of the Nagas. It urged Nagas across regions and states not to reject the Pan Naga Hoho without understanding its concept and operational framework, and give peace and unity a genuine opportunity by coming together under this platform.
“Without an inclusive solution, any agreement risks further dividing the Nagas, and any settlement confined to a particular state or area may only mark the beginning of another cycle of conflict within Naga society,” it cautioned.
The statement emphasised that Naga historical and political rights encompass Nagas everywhere and called for safeguarding the shared heritage defended by earlier generations against repressive and oppressive forces.
“This shared heritage, defended with blood and tears, cannot be reduced to piecemeal solutions limited to specific regions or sectional interests,” it said, adding that Naga people have borne responsibilities together as a struggling nation across the length and breadth of their homeland.
It said collective wisdom emerging from the Pan Naga Hoho would serve the interests and aspirations of the Nagas in broader and stronger ways and described past collective expressions for a united Nagaland as “irrevocable, irreversible, and indelible.”
“An inclusive and robust institutional structure in the form of the Pan Naga Hoho will provide the Nagas with the strength needed to address common challenges in the larger interest of the entire Naga family,” GNF said. It added that fears arising from one sided perceptions must be addressed through dialogue and understanding.
Appealing to the younger generation, the Forum urged them not to be swayed solely by emotion but apply thoughtful reflection and introspection to embrace the shared Naga heritage that can guide the people toward freedom, progress, and prosperity. “It is time for young Nagas across all regions to urgently come together to build a strong and enduring Naga alliance, harnessing the opportunity presently before us,” it said.
Referring to Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio’s speech at the Lui Ngai Ni Festival 2026 in Ukhrul on February 15, the GNF welcomed his call for a “Pan Naga” entity establishing a unified platform across traditional boundaries. It stated that any lasting solution must promote unity among Nagas across man-made boundaries and stand as a global example of resolving complex political issues through dialogue, dignity, and statesmanship rather than prolonged conflict.
The Forum appealed to the Political Affairs Committee, Naga Political Groups, Naga civil society organizations and Tribal Hohos to take a decisive step toward unity and peace in pursuit of an Indo-Naga political settlement, expressing hope that 2026 would become a year of unity, solution and lasting peace.
