Manipur Peace Talks: Kuki-Zo Council Agrees To Reopen NH-2 For Free Movement Of Commuters And Essential Goods

In a significant breakthrough towards restoring normalcy in Manipur, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to reopen National Highway-02, the state’s vital supply route, the Union home ministry (MHA) announced on Thursday (4 September), the Hindustan Times reported.

The decision followed a series of meetings in New Delhi between MHA officials and a KZC delegation.

The highway, which connects Manipur with Nagaland and the rest of the Northeast, has remained blocked for months amid ethnic tensions that erupted in May 2023.

The MHA said the council has extended full cooperation to security forces to ensure peace along the highway.

"KZC has given commitment to cooperate with Security Forces deployed by GoI to maintain peace along NH-02," the ministry stated.

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The reopening of NH-2 will ease the movement of commuters and essential commodities, providing much-needed relief to displaced families and people living in relief camps across the state.

Alongside this development, a tripartite meeting was held in New Delhi involving representatives of the MHA, Government of Manipur, and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF).

The meeting concluded with the signing of a revised Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement for a one-year term.

"The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules) to be effective from the day of signing of the Agreement for a period of one year," the MHA mentioned.

The revised pact emphasises Manipur’s territorial integrity and the pursuit of a negotiated solution for lasting peace.

It also requires KNO and UPF to relocate camps away from conflict zones, reduce the number of designated camps, move weapons to CRPF and BSF custody, and undergo stricter verification of cadres.

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