File photo of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Manipur after the ethnic clashes in the state.
Kuki-Zo Council Signs SoO Pact for Peace
NH-02 Opens
New Delhi: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to reopen National Highway-02 (NH-02) for commuters and essential goods transportation, following negotiations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), marking a step toward easing tensions in Manipur. The decision, announced today, came after several meetings in New Delhi between MHA officials and a KZC delegation, with the council committing to cooperate with security forces deployed by the Government of India (GoI) to maintain peace along the route.
Parallel to this development, a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement was signed among MHA representatives, the Government of Manipur, and Kuki groups—the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF)—on re-negotiated terms effective immediately for one year. The pact reaffirms Manipur’s territorial integrity and the need for a negotiated solution to restore lasting peace, amid ongoing ethnic conflicts in the state that have disrupted supply lines and displaced communities.
The SoO Agreement, a truce mechanism suspending armed operations between the government and insurgent groups to facilitate dialogue, includes provisions for relocating seven designated camps away from conflict-prone areas, reducing the number of camps, shifting weapons to nearby Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) or Border Security Force (BSF) camps, and conducting stringent verification of cadres to exclude foreign nationals. “This revised agreement emphasises cooperation to maintain stability,” an MHA official said, noting that violations will be dealt with firmly by the Joint Monitoring Group, potentially leading to a review of the pact.
The NH-02 reopening addresses a critical issue in Manipur, where blockades have hindered essential supplies, exacerbating economic hardships for residents. The KZC’s commitment to security cooperation aims to prevent disruptions, allowing free movement and aiding humanitarian efforts. The SoO pact, originally signed in 2008 and extended multiple times, has been renegotiated to incorporate stricter ground rules, reflecting efforts to contain violence that has claimed over 200 lives since May 2023, according to state reports.
These initiatives come amid broader peace efforts in Manipur, where ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities have led to the displacement of over 60,000 people and economic losses estimated at Rs. 10,000 crore. The agreements could facilitate dialogue, but challenges remain, including trust-building between communities and ensuring implementation without breaches. Unverified elements, such as the specific meeting outcomes and camp relocations in 2025, underscore the need for ongoing monitoring to achieve sustainable peace.
The event involved key stakeholders, with the SoO signing highlighting a collaborative approach to resolve longstanding issues in the region.
– global bihari bureau
