KNO and UPF have denied reports that a revised Suspension of Operations agreement has been signed with the Centre and the Manipur government, saying no fresh pact has been concluded.
By PC Bureau
August 10, 2026: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF), which represent Kuki-Zo groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework, have denied reports that they have entered into a revised ceasefire agreement with the Centre and the Manipur government.
In a joint clarification issued on Monday, the two organisations said reports claiming that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Manipur government and the Kuki-Zo groups had signed a fresh or revised SoO agreement were incorrect.
The statement was issued in response to reports published by media organisations, including Northeast Now on August 9, suggesting that a revised agreement had been reached.
KNO and UPF said the existing SoO arrangement remains the latest agreement between the Centre and the two umbrella organisations and was last extended on September 4, 2025.
“No subsequent meeting has taken place on this matter, and no revised agreement has been signed,” the organisations said.
They cautioned the public against relying on reports that had not been officially verified, arguing that developments relating to the SoO process would be communicated directly through formal statements issued by the two organisations.
‘No revised agreement’
The clarification comes amid continuing political and security uncertainty in Manipur, where the SoO arrangement has remained a key component of the government’s engagement with armed Kuki-Zo groups.
The tripartite Suspension of Operations framework involves the Government of India, the Government of Manipur and the KNO and UPF. The arrangement is intended to suspend armed operations by groups covered under the pact and facilitate political dialogue.
The KNO and UPF said there had been no fresh round of negotiations resulting in a revised agreement.
They also criticised the publication of what they described as unverified information, saying that reports concerning such a sensitive issue should be confirmed with the concerned parties before publication.
The organisations said they would continue their established practice of issuing official statements whenever there was a substantive development in the SoO process.
The clarification is significant because any change to the SoO framework could have wider implications for the political dialogue between the Centre and Kuki-Zo representatives, particularly at a time when questions surrounding the future structure of Manipur remain politically contentious.
READ: Manipur: Kuki Body Opposes Proposed India-Myanmar Land Swap
KNO, UPF reject interpretation of territorial demand
The two organisations also used the statement to address renewed debate over the phrase “territorial integrity of Manipur”, which has featured in discussions surrounding the SoO framework.
KNO and UPF argued that references to territorial integrity must be understood within the constitutional framework of the Indian Union.
They said the 2008 tripartite SoO agreement contained a reference to the territorial integrity of Manipur in its preamble. According to the organisations, the provision was inserted at the insistence of the state government of the time.
The KNO and UPF said the reference had been intended largely as a political accommodation and had subsequently contributed to confusion over the nature of their political demands.
Groups urge caution over reports
The KNO and UPF said inaccurate reporting on the SoO issue could create unnecessary confusion and public tension.
They urged the public to exercise caution and rely on official communications from the organisations when assessing developments relating to the agreement.
The organisations also expressed regret over what they described as the unnecessary confusion and agitation generated by the August 9 report.
The latest statement does not indicate that negotiations over the SoO framework have been permanently halted. Rather, it makes clear that, according to the KNO and UPF, no revised agreement has been concluded or signed since the existing arrangement was last extended in September 2025.
With the political situation in Manipur still unsettled, any future move to renew, modify or restructure the SoO framework is likely to attract close scrutiny from all sides.
For now, however, the KNO and UPF have made their position clear: reports of a newly signed or revised SoO agreement with the Centre and the Manipur government are, according to them, unfo
