Group says India’s international rhetoric on dialogue contrasts with its handling of the Naga political process
The MIP of the NSCN/GPRN has questioned the Government of India’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, drawing a direct comparison between its position at the recently concluded 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi and its handling of the Naga political question.
In a statement issued following the summit, the group accused the Government of India of maintaining “double standards” by advocating dialogue, peaceful diplomacy and reforms on the international stage while, according to the organisation, failing to advance the Indo-Naga political dialogue.
The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi on September 13 with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. The 45-page declaration addresses a range of international issues, including global governance, conflicts, cooperation and multilateralism.
The MIP specifically cited provisions of the declaration which, it said, emphasise democratic global governance, sovereign equality, inclusive representation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and consultation.
Against this backdrop, the group pointed to the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN on August 3, 2015, describing it as a historic political agreement that recognised the “unique history” and political aspirations of the Nagas.
The Framework Agreement was signed in New Delhi in 2015 after years of negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). The agreement was presented by the government at the time as a significant milestone in the Naga peace process.
The MIP alleged that, more than a decade after the agreement was signed, its implementation had effectively stalled. It accused the Centre of choosing what it described as “military suppression” instead of pursuing a sincere political dialogue with the Nagas.
The organisation further alleged that the Centre’s approach to the conflict in Manipur contradicted its stated commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. It accused the Government of India of supporting or providing logistical assistance to Kuki National Army (KNA) elements and alleged that these groups were being used as “proxy forces” against Naga communities.
These allegations could not be independently established from the statement.
The MIP also alleged that the Government of India was collaborating with KNA(B), which it claimed operates from across the border in Myanmar, and accused the Centre of contributing to ethnic conflict in the region.
The group warned that continued military pressure and what it described as proxy warfare could further undermine the prospects for a negotiated political settlement, arguing that prolonged pressure on the Nagas could make a return to the negotiating table increasingly difficult.
The statement called on the Government of India to reconcile its international advocacy for peaceful diplomacy with its approach to the Naga political issue.
The MIP concluded by calling for an end to “colonialism in all its forms,” including what it described as the continuation of colonial practices by the Government of India.
