In a major development under President’s Rule, Delhi hosted peace talks aimed at reviving the stalled Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework. The dialogue marks a renewed effort to address demands for self-governance and restore stability in violence-hit Manipur.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, June 9, 2025: The first round of talks between representatives of Kuki-Zo groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) concluded on a positive note in Delhi on Monday. Both sides agreed to continue the dialogue process, with the second round of talks scheduled for next week. The development marks a potential breakthrough in addressing the long-standing ethnic tensions in Manipur, though no concrete decisions were made during the initial meeting.
The MHA delegation was led by A.K. Mishra, Adviser on Northeast Affairs, and included the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. The Kuki-Zo side was represented by seven delegates from SoO groups, including members of the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), the two umbrella bodies overseeing 25 insurgent factions under the agreement. Sources indicated that the discussions proceeded without preconditions, fostering a broader convergence of views on resolving the pending issue of extending the SoO agreement, which has been a contentious matter for years.
The SoO agreement, a tripartite pact signed on August 22, 2008, between the Government of India, the Manipur government, and Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, aimed to cease hostilities and initiate political dialogue. Initially designed to address the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate state following the 1990s Kuki-Naga clashes, the agreement evolved into negotiations for a “Kukiland Territorial Council” with administrative and financial autonomy. The pact requires the cadres—estimated at around 2,200 across 14 designated camps—to deposit their weapons, abstain from violence, and engage in peace talks, while security forces refrain from operations against compliant groups. The agreement has been extended annually, but its future has been uncertain since the Manipur government withdrew its participation on February 29, 2024, leaving the pact in limbo.
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Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a “Tribal Solidarity March” protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes between the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo hills have claimed over 250 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people, many of whom remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. The violence has strained the SoO framework, with allegations that some cadres violated ground rules, prompting calls from Meitei groups and the Manipur Assembly to abrogate the pact. Conversely, Kuki-Zo groups have escalated their demand from self-governance to a separate administration or Union Territory within India, citing discrimination and insecurity.
Last SoO-Level Talks
The last significant SoO-level talks occurred on August 17, 2023, in New Delhi, marking the second round of discussions following the initial meeting on July 26, 2023. These talks, involving UPF and KNO representatives and MHA officials, focused on the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate administration amid ongoing violence. However, progress stalled due to the Manipur government’s refusal to extend the pact in February 2024 and subsequent reviews of ground rules by the MHA. The current round, initiated under the newly imposed President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, reflects a renewed push for dialogue after months of deadlock.
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Current Talks and Key Issues
Sources emphasized that Monday’s meeting was an exchange of views rather than a platform for concrete decisions. The focus was on assessing the ground situation in Manipur, where recent violence in Imphal Valley—triggered by the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh on June 7, 2025—has reignited security concerns. The absence of an extended SoO agreement has left nearly 2,200 cadres without their stipulated monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 for nearly two years, creating financial and morale issues. A finalized extension could pave the way for advancing talks on other pressing matters, including the relocation of IDP camps, reopening highways for free movement, and addressing the Kuki-Zo demand for self-rule through a Union Territory.
However, no substantive discussions occurred on these issues. The Kuki-Zo side reiterated their stance on self-governance, while the MHA stressed the need for peace as a prerequisite for political solutions. The positive tone suggests a willingness to negotiate, but skepticism remains given the historical mistrust and the Meitei community’s opposition, exemplified by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) rejecting similar talks in April 2025 as a “stage-managed exercise.”
Challenges and Outlook
The talks’ success hinges on balancing the Kuki-Zo demand for autonomy with Manipur’s territorial integrity, a sensitive issue for the Meitei majority. The relocation of IDP camps and highway access are logistical challenges compounded by ongoing ethnic divisions, while the Union Territory demand faces resistance from the state.
The second round next week will be pivotal. If it addresses stipend arrears and sets a timeline for broader issues, it could restore trust. However, without concrete outcomes, the dialogue risks becoming another stalled effort, leaving Manipur’s ethnic fault lines unresolved as violence persists.
