Indo-Naga Political Negotiations

The first negotiation between India and the Nagas predates India’s independence of 1947—before India became a nation-state—even though India was still under British rule at that time.

Sir Akbar Hydari, Governor of Assam (representing the soon-to-be Indian administration) represented India, and the Naga National Council (NNC) led by T. Sakhrie, A.Z. Phizo, and others represented the Nagas. The Naga–Akbar Hydari Agreement—the earliest framework for Indo-Naga dialogue happened in June 1947.

The breakdown in understanding and lack of follow-up mechanisms of the Naga–Akbar Hydari Agreement sowed deep mistrust, setting the stage for Naga independence declaration even before India and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

On 22 March 1956, the Naga National Council (NNC) led by A.Z. Phizo formally established the Naga Central Government, which was renamed the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) in 1959.

India signed an agreement with moderate Naga leaders, not the Naga National Council (NNC), leading to the formation of Nagaland as the 16th state of India in 1963. The NNC rejected the agreement, deeming it a betrayal.

India and the Naga National Council (NNC) entered into a first formal ceasefire, marking the first official negotiations between the two sides. A Peace Mission, including Rev. Michael Scott, Jayaprakash Narayan, and B.P. Chaliha, was established to mediate.

Ceasefire violations and escalating mistrust caused the collapse of peace talks. Consequently, the Peace Mission was dissolved, and military operations were resumed.

On August 31, 1972, India banned the Naga National Council (NNC), unilaterally terminated the ceasefire the following day, and transferred the administration of ‘Nagaland State’ from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A major turning point came when some Naga National Council (NNC) leaders signed the Shillong Accord with the Government of India, agreeing to lay down arms and accept the Indian Constitution. However, the Accord was widely rejected by some prominent NNC leaders—most notably by Thuingaleng Muivah, Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang, and Isak Chishi Swu—ultimately leading to the formation of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.

In protest against the Shillong Accord, prominent Naga National Council (NNC) leaders—Thuingaleng Muivah, Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang, and Isak Chishi Swu—broke away to form the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), vowing to continue the struggle against what they saw as occupying forces in the Naga homeland.

The NSCN split due to internal differences, resulting in two groups: NSCN (IM), led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, and NSCN (K), led by Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang. NSCN (IM) later emerged as the dominant group in peace negotiations with the Government of India.

The Government of India (GoI) and NSCN (IM) extended the ongoing ceasefire “without any territorial limits” between the two entities.

Between February 2002 and June 2010, the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN (IM) held 35 rounds of talks, both within India and abroad.

India’s interlocutor, R.S. Pandey, proposed the concept of “Shared Sovereignty” to the NSCN (IM) as part of efforts to resolve the Indo-Naga conflict.

A historic agreement was signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM), recognizing the unique history and identity of the Nagas. The agreement aimed to resolve the Indo-Naga conflict based on the concept of “shared sovereignty” and establish a “new relationship” between the “two entities.”

The Government of India (GoI) initiated parallel talks with Naga groups, primarily splinter factions of the Naga National Council (NNC) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN – K), under the new umbrella of NNPGs, formed on December 13, 2016, and signed the “Agreed Position.”

The NSCN (IM) expressed discomfort with what it perceived as a “divide and rule” strategy.

The GoI declared that talks had concluded and it was time to finalize the accord. While the NNPGs accepted the GoI’s position, the NSCN (IM) disagreed, asserting that the talks were not yet complete. The NSCN (IM) further claimed that they were given an ultimatum to conclude the negotiations by October 31, 2019.

The NSCN (IM) continues to maintain that the negotiations are not yet complete and insists that any settlement must be based on the “letter and spirit” of the 2015 Indo-Naga Framework Agreement, and “Nagas Will Never Join Indian Union Nor Accept India’s Constitution” (NSCN (IM) General Secretary Th. Muivah’s interview with Karan Thapar, The Wire, October 16, 2020).

In contrast, the NNPGs are more flexible, willing to settle within the constitution of India based on the “contemporary political reality” signed 2017 Agreed Position, and on the Naga integration issue, it will be pursued democratically through people-to-people dialogue (Published by The Telegraph, July 9, 2018 titled “NNPGs for ‘democratic’ solution“).

Peace remains fragile, with armed groups still active, and civil society playing a crucial role in maintaining calm.