Kohima, Feb 4 (IANS) The Nagaland government is ready to play any role in bringing Myanmar-based Naga insurgent group NSCN-K to re-enter a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang has said.
"I am happy to learn that the NSCN-K is going to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government," Zeliang said at a function in the Aboi town council on Wednesday.
The chief minister expressed hope that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang group will also re-enter into a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government to allow peace to prevail in the northeastern state.
S.S. Khaplang, a Myanmarese Hemi Naga chieftain who heads the NSCN-K faction, abrogated the ceasefire with the Indian government on March 27, 2015, just a month before the truce was up for renewal. The group had signed a truce in 2001.
After abrogating the ceasefire, Khaplang's rebels went on a killing spree, attacking Indian soldiers in Nagaland and Manipur. It even mounted the deadly ambush on a convoy of the 6 Dogra Regiment in Manipur's Chandel district on June 4, 2015, killing 18 army personnel.
"Gun has not given us any solution for the past six decades. Therefore, the only way to find a permanent solution is through dialogue. The state government is ready to play any role to facilitate the ceasefire between India and NSCN-K so that dialogue can continue," the chief minister said.
Stating that when the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed to the early settlement of the Naga political issue, the people should grasp the opportunity and collectively work towards it without creating any imbroglio among the Nagas, Zeliang said.
"Nagas will never progress and the only means to put an end to the gun culture is to find an early solution to the Naga political problem," he added.
"The sooner we solve this problem, the sooner we will have permanent peace. But if we prolong, I am apprehensive that more armed groups will come up and it will create more trouble," Zeliang said.
