Former special director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), AK Mishra is scheduled to arrive Dimapur on September 18 and hold talks with the NSCN (I-M) leadership on September 20 at Police Complex, Chümoukedima.
According to sources, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah, who is also the group’s chief negotiator, will be attending the meeting.
It may be mentioned that in 2020, director Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar along with special director AK Mishra were directed by the Prime Minister’s Office to get the NSCN (I-M) back on track for bringing out an all-encompassing agreement towards solution.
PMO was reportedly “disturbed” when communications between then Nagaland Governor and interlocutor for Naga talks RN Ravi and the NSCN (I-M) were snapped and task to reconnect was given to the IB.
Though Centre was yet to officially declare over appointment of a new interlocutor to replace R.N. Ravi, sources said talks between IB officials and NSCN (I-M) were going for over a year now. RN Ravi, as the interlocutor, had declared that all official talks were over with the Naga groups by October 31,2019, the Centre is not likely to appoint another interlocutor, sources added.
It may be recalled, that Ravi in October 2019 had informed Nagaland Post that the time-frame for concluding official talks with all groups was October 31, 2019 as promised earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also, as reported on October 31, 2019, both government of India and NSCN (I-M) arrived at a consensus over the demand for a separate Naga national flag and constitution.
A senior NSCN (I-M) leader, who was part of the delegation, confirmed to Nagaland Post that at the meeting on October 31, 2019 both sides “finalised all contentious issues” and agreed to pursue it through “peaceful political process”. However, NSCN (I-M) leader said that they still had “to give competencies the final touch for final solution.”
Earlier this year, NSCN (I-M) reiterated its position for separate Naga flag and constitution, asserting that the Naga national identity symbolised by the Naga flag and constitution cannot be sacrificed and put on the bargaining table in exchange for anything.