Talks with KZC first step towards peace in Manipur: CM Khechand

Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday described the recent talks with Kuki Zo Council (KZC) as “good beginning” while asserting that it was held with the objective of bringing back peace in the state.
Singh who talked to reporters on the sideline of an inspection at the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak in Imphal also said that the government was preparing to conduct operations to flush out armed groups from the hill areas.
The chief minister who arrived at Imphal from Guwahati after a talk with representatives of the KZC there on Saturday went to inspect conditions of the ISBT. The terminus was recommissioned during the President’s Rule, on January 22, 2026, is to resume operations after being largely defunct for years.
The government’s move to hold talks with the Kuki Zo Council was the first step to remove the trust deficit that exists between the two communities in the state, the chief minister said.
“It is also a step to bridge the gap between the two communities in an effort to bring peace. It marks a crucial first step in addressing the trust deficit between communities and restoring peace in the state,” he added.
The chief minister emphasized that the dialogue aimed to bridge longstanding divides and foster reconciliation.
Responding to queries from the reporters regarding deliberations during the recent talks with the KZC leaders, Singh said that the willingness of the KZC to engage in talks after nearly three years was a positive development. He said that bridging the trust deficit and gap between the Meitei–Kuki communities was the top priority of his government and it was the central agenda of the talks.
The chief minister highlighted his government’s initiatives towards restoring stability in the state and said that the recent meeting at Guwahati where he held discussions with members of the Kuki-Zo Council was to promote an environment conducive to dialogue. He hoped that such engagements would help overcome both communities’ hesitation and participate in talks more openly. Regarding the demand for a “separate administration” by certain Kuki groups, the chief minister reiterated New Delhi’s commitment toward protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clearly stated, in Parliament, that Manipur’s territorial integrity cannot be compromised at any cost.
“I need not speak on an issue which has already been made clear by the Prime Minister,” he said.
The chief minister revealed that the discussions were solely focused on initiating a peace process without any assurances or concessions on the demand.
There was a discussion on the resettlement of the displaced families of both sides to their respective places, he said
Emphasizing the need for unity, he said that adopting the forgive and forget approach was vital for moving forward.
“Our state is inhabited by 36 different communities and our state shall remain intact. And let us forgive and forget the past for a better future,” he added.
As to buffer zones terminology, Singh said “there is no buffer zone for the government.”
“During (yesterday’s) talks, I referred to it as a sensitive zone. Since there is no trust, security forces engage in checking at such sensitive zones,” he added.
The chief minister further said, “Now is not the time for any kind of confrontation. If we want to bring peace, we must work honestly and more importantly, we must not focus on someone saying this or someone saying that.”
To another query on the movement of people on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur Road), the chief minister said that the people were already travelling on the highway, but in lesser numbers. He said that there was still fear in people’s minds when travelling on the highway because of the trust deficit between the two communities.
“This is the reason why I said that removing the trust deficit is my priority,” he added.
Regarding reports of firings and public hesitation due to the restive situation in Ukhrul district, the chief minister acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation following the recent incident of holding captive of passengers travelling along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. However, with the improvement in law and order situation in the district, the Imphal-Ukhrul Road has been reopened and security measures have also beefed up, he added.
The chief minister said that preparations were underway to launch operations to flush out armed elements and anti-social elements in certain hill areas to ensure safety and stability in the region. “(The) security forces will soon undertake operations to sanitize the Sanakeithel area following reports of gunfire, with the aim of restoring normalcy at the earliest,” he said.
During the inspection, the chief minister was accompanied by MLA Thangjam ArunKumar Singh, state additional chief secretary Anurag Bajpai, director of state transport department Khumanthem Diana Devi, chief engineer of state PWD Chongtham Biswachandra Singh among others.
The chief minister underscored the critical role of robust inter-district connectivity in driving inclusive economic growth and sustainable development across Manipur while reiterating government’s commitment to upgrading and improving ISBT infrastructure for better serve inter-district commuters, ensuring seamless access to education, healthcare, and market opportunities.
Guwahati talk largely ice-breaking session: KZC
On the other hand, Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) which had a meeting with chief minister Y Khemchand Singh in Guwahati said that the talk was “largely an ice-breaking session”
In a statement on Guwahati talk issued on Sunday, the KZC stated that the leaders of the body raised several key issues while claiming that all of which were attentively heard by the chief minister.
“Prominent among these were the urgent need to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities, and the imperative of ensuring justice for the victims of the conflict as a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process” it said.
It stated that ensuring justice for the victims of the ethnic conflict was a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process.
The KZC said that the meeting commenced at 7 pm and lasted approximately for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
“As the first engagement after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities, the interaction was largely an ice-breaking session” it said.
The KZC also emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a political settlement was reached and stressed the need to expedite a resolution to the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region.
“The chief minister, in turn, shared his concerns, commitments, and the steps undertaken by his government to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. The chief minister expressed high appreciation for the KZC’s initiative and its bold step in engaging with him during this challenging period” it said. The meeting however concluded without any decisions or agreements, it said.