Search the Internet          Tips

Talks with NSCN (I-M) inconclusive,
emissary to fly back to Delhi

Crucial talks between Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's emissary and the underground Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) faction remained inconclusive on Thursday, after both sides expressed 'substantive' differences on the issue of extending coverage of ceasefire beyond Nagaland.

The two sides decided not to meet on Thursday.

Government emissary K Padmanabhaiah said, "The talks remain inconclusive," adding he had to get back to the government and discuss the matter further with the joint group looking into this issue.

"We gave them a draft and they gave us a draft. We wanted to reconcile both drafts but there are substantive differences and the issue can't be sorted out on Thursday," Padmanabhaiah said.

After two days of talks, both the sides had indicated that a short round of talks could be held on Thursday morning.

NSCN (I-M) general secretary T Muivah said they had given their views and they would not change. He said 'things will go smoothly' if the government decided to accept their demands.

Padmanabaiah said the differences centred around the extension of the coverage of ceasefire. He said the government had to take into account the concerns of other states and allay their fears, before taking a decision.

On Wednesday, the emissary had noted that in principle the government agreed with the NSCN (I-M) on the ceasefire issue but 'there were operational issues involved in extending the ceasefire which were creating problems'.

Muivah said, "It is meaningless to hold talks unless the ceasefire coverage issue was not made clear."

"NSCN (I-M) feels the government has not honoured its promise of extending the ceasefire to all Naga inhabited areas," he said.

Asked if the NSCN was going to honour the ceasefire agreement, which expires in July, Muivah said, "It is likely to be over, not necessarily immediately."

He said that they could break away from the ceasefire agreement anytime. "If the government forces attack us, we will retaliate, there will be war."

"It is a war imposed on us," he added.

"There are major problems on the coverage issue. There are vast differences and we feel betrayed by India for not honouring its promises," he had told reporters on Wednesday.

Tell us what you think of this report