Government and rebel Naga leaders Monday failed to reach an agreement on extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland, but agreed to hold informal consultations again Tuesday when the truce expires.
Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who is leading the government delegation at the talks in Bangkok with National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, said the discussions were still on and hoped for a positive result by Tuesday when the six-month extension given to the ceasefire ends.
The ceasefire, brokered in 1997, had continued to be extended by a year since then, but in 2005 it was extended only for six months.
"The discussions are on. It (outcome) can be today or it can be tomorrow," Fernandes said.
Samson Jajo, a senior member of the NSCN (IM) told PTI after the third day of the marathon negotiations that the two sides will hold an informal meeting Tuesday morning.
Jajo, who is the secretary of the Collective Leadership of the Naga group, did not give any details of the day-long talks.
The two sides held formal talks Monday morning, which later spilled into an informal meeting after they failed to reach a decision. However, the day ended without any agreement being reached.
The NSCN (IM) had said Sunday that unless the government of India took "positive" steps on the Naga issue, the group saw no need to extend the ceasefire agreement.
"We very, very strongly told the Indian government negotiators that unless the government of India took steps to control its armed forces, we will not extend the ceasefire agreement," NSCN (IM) said.
The rebel group had alleged that the Indian armed forces had violated the ceasefire agreement by directly helping the rival Khaplan faction.
Fernandes is being aided by veteran negotiator K Padmanabhaiah.
The meeting to discuss the extension of the ceasefire began on Saturday.
