Roadmap for Political Solution Deliberated at Length During UPF-KNO and MHA Talks in Delhi

In a significant development, the first formal round of talks between the Government of India and the Kuki-Zo Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups since the eruption of the Manipur conflict in 2023 was held in New Delhi on Monday. The dialogue centred around the roadmap for a long-term political solution to the ongoing crisis.

The four-member delegation representing the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was led by the Centre’s official interlocutor, A.K. Mishra. On the other side, the five-member delegation representing the Kuki-Zo SoO groups—under the umbrella of the United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO)—was led by Aaron Kipgen, Spokesperson of UPF, and Dr. Seilen Haokip, Spokesperson of KNO.

During the meeting, the Kuki-Zo delegates emphatically asserted that any discussions on ground-level issues—such as reopening highways or rehabilitating internally displaced persons (IDPs)—would be futile unless the political dialogue is pursued with seriousness and sincerity.

The delegation further raised grave concerns over the continued presence of Meitei insurgent groups in temporary camps located in the Sadar Hills area of Kangpokpi district. They demanded the immediate removal of these camps, stating that their presence poses a security threat and must be addressed if the SoO groups are to reconsider the positioning of their own camps.

Both sides agreed to reconvene for a follow-up meeting in the coming days, signaling a cautious but significant step forward in addressing the ethnic and political unrest that has gripped the region since last year.

This dialogue comes at a time when Manipur witnessed a fresh violence that rock the capital city Imphal following the arrested of Meitei radical Arambai Tenggol's Army chief by the CBI.

The talks in Delhi represent not only a diplomatic engagement but also a critical test of the Centre’s political will to resolve one of India’s most complex and prolonged internal conflicts.

The next round of talks will reveal whether this initial breakthrough can be converted into a durable and inclusive political framework—one that honours the aspirations of all communities in Manipur and brings an end to a year-long humanitarian and political crisis.