Naga leaders likely to visit India in February

Naga insurgent outfit National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) leaders are likely to come to India in February to hold talks with the Centre for a peaceful solution to the vexed Naga problem, informed sources said on Friday night. However, the dates are yet to be finalised.

NSCN (I-M) chairman Isaak Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah had reportedly indicated their willingness to visit India during talks with the Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and Intelligence Bureau chief K P Singh in Bangkok recently.

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The duo had visited Delhi in January 2003, after a gap of 30 years, and met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani, other leaders and government officials.

Since 1997, security forces and NSCN (I-M) have been observing a ceasefire, which has been extended every year. The term of the current ceasefire will end in July this year.

Although the NSCN (I-M) has agreed to a peaceful solution to the Naga problem, the insurgent group is yet to give up its demand for a 'Greater Nagaland' to unify Naga-dominated regions in the Northeast, an idea vehemently opposed by states neighbouring Nagaland.