By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Former Director General of Information Systems, Indian Army

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the signing ceremony of historic peace accord between Government of India & NSCN, in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a group photo at the signing ceremony of historic peace accord between Government of India & NSCN, in New Delhi on August 3, 2015. The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh is also seen.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the signing ceremony of historic peace accord between Government of India & NSCN, in New Delhi on August 3, 2015.

The news about a peace pact signed between the government and the NSCN (IM) was a welcome surprise by all except perhaps Chinese intelligence who after years of hard work persuaded the NSCN (K) earlier this year to abrogate the 13 year ceasefire agreement with GoI and recently succeeded in establishing the ULFWSEA (United Liberation Front of West, South, East Asia) bringing together nine militant groups of northeast, with Chinese protégés Khaplang and Paresh Barua heading the new outfit.

The recent pact with NSCN (IM) though under negotiations for some time was delayed because of poor health of NSCN (IM) Chairman Isak Swu, who would have liked to be present at the historic moment of signing such a pact. During signing of the peace pact, Thuigaleng Muivah, General Secretary NSCN (IM) stated, "Beginning from now the challenges will be great so also the responsibilities. The obligations to meet the needs of the people shall be paramount for both the parties to make this historic Endeavour more meaningful. Let me also assure you that Nagas can still come closer if their rights are respected. On behalf of the Naga people allow me to assure you once again that Nagas can be trustworthy and take into your confidence for any policy in the Northeast and beyond the frontiers".

During the years of ceasefire with NSCN (K) the grouse of other Naga tribes was that while NSCN (K) was given added importance, they were virtually being neglected especially when the issues involved covered the entire gamut of territory, rights and socio-economic issues affecting all Nagas. To top this, there were enough reports in the last decade that despite the ceasefire, the NSCN (K) was regularly indulging in intimidation and extortion with concerned state governments taking no action against them. The repeated siege of Manipur itself was indicator enough that all was not well and the Naga issue was not being addressed adequately. This apart, despite the 'Look East' policy announced by the UPA II government, our own northeast which is the land link for our Look East remained grossly neglected. Anyone visiting northeast would swear by this.

It is quite certain that the NSCN (K) and other northeast insurgent groups, particularly ULFA, would do their level best to oppose and destroy the peace pact between GoI and NSCN (IM).

In fact, governments since 1947 have neglected development of our northeast region so essential to integrate the region with rest of India, which in turn prompted insurgencies aided and abetted by China and increased illegal territorial claims by the latter. The recent peace pact undoubtedly is a welcome initiative by the Modi Government but as they say the proof of the pudding lies in its eating. At present this peace pact is only a framework agreement that lays the ground for further negotiations. The opposition in typical style is hollering about the clauses of the pact being kept secret. While welcoming the peace pact between the Centre and the NSCN(IM), Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has questioned why the clauses of the settlement had been kept under wraps, adding, "We will oppose tooth and nail any move that affects the interests of Assam". But political rhetoric apart, the agreement was perhaps hastened because of failing health of Isac Swu who is hospitalized. Obviously, the clauses of the final agreement would need much more detailed deliberations and would be contingent upon how the follow up negotiations progress. The quantum of success of the final agreement with respect to peace in the northeast would also depend upon which and how many Naga tribes are not part of the final settlement.

As per media reports, a number of Naga leaders were present during signing of the peace pact on August 3 but which Naga tribes were not represented is not known. It is quite certain that the NSCN (K) and other northeast insurgent groups, particularly ULFA, would do their level best to oppose and destroy the peace pact between GoI and NSCN (IM). One can expect Chinese intelligence working double time to psychologicall instigate Khaplang, Paresh Barua and ULFWSEA to take out their armoury and attack India because they have been left out of peace negotiation by the Indian government. Khaplang reportedly has recuperated from his illness and is back in action at Taga in Myanmar's Sagaing district near the Indo-Myanmar border. Incidentally, NSCN(K) had charged ULFA Rs 50,000 each for the three camps it established in Taga. That terrorism is business is well known but to that end the ULFWSEA must abide by their main benefactor — China. The government would have taken note of all these issues. Hopefully, the peace pact will usher a new era of development of our northeast.