Talks Resume After Long Gap
The SoO pact, first signed in 2008 to reduce hostilities, had been routinely extended until the state government refused to renew it last year. The Home Ministry reopened negotiations on June 9, 2025, after a two-year gap, introducing stricter ground rules. Among the conditions is a reduction in designated SoO camps from 14 to seven, relocated away from Meitei-dominated areas.
One of the key outcomes expected from these talks is the reopening of National Highways 2 and 37. These routes, crucial for connecting the Imphal Valley with Nagaland and Assam, have remained blocked for Meitei movement for over two years. Their reopening would significantly ease the supply of essentials and restore normal connectivity to the landlocked state capital.
PM Modi’s First Visit Since 2023 Violence
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Manipur in the second week of September. This will mark his first trip to the state since May 2023, when ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted, leading to over 250 deaths and displacing more than 60,000 residents. The ongoing unrest led to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13, 2025.
Shifting Demands of Kuki-Zo Groups
Before the violence, SoO groups primarily demanded autonomous territorial councils within Manipur. However, following the unrest, their demand has escalated to a call for separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with its own legislature. Around 2,200 cadres, grouped under the United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), currently reside in designated camps across the hill districts.
Accusations and Counterclaims
The SoO groups accuse the state government of targeting them using state machinery, while Meitei organisations have blamed the armed groups for attacks during and after the 2023 violence. Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh previously alleged that the insurgents violated ground rules, fuelling the conflict. Meanwhile, the cadres, entitled to a ₹6,000 monthly stipend, have not received payments since the outbreak of violence.
What Lies Ahead
Today’s meeting, involving A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast) to the Home Ministry, and senior Intelligence Bureau officials, will play a pivotal role in shaping the peace process. The government hopes that renewing the pact and reopening highways will create a conducive environment for the Prime Minister’s visit. However, the demand for separate administration remains a contentious issue that could determine the future trajectory of peace talks in the region.