Imphal, September 5, 2025: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) have reaffirmed their commitment to a structured, time-bound tripartite dialogue with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur, following the renewal of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The dialogue aims at achieving a negotiated political settlement within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
In their joint statement, KNO and UPF stressed that any questions of territorial integrity or administrative restructuring must follow the constitutional process as laid down under Articles 1, 3, and 368 - requiring parliamentary approval rather than unilateral or judicial decisions.
Addressing recent debates surrounding National Highway-2 (Imphal–Dimapur) via Kangpokpi, the organisations clarified that the Kuki-Zo community had not blocked the route. Instead, the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) had appealed only for cooperation with central security forces to ensure safe passage of essential goods along the Kangpokpi stretch. They emphasized that this should not be seen as endorsing unrestricted civilian movement across sensitive buffer zones between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas.
“The responsibility for securing the highway lies with the Government of India and its security forces,” the release stated, urging media and the public not to spread misinformation.
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Looking ahead, KNO and UPF reiterated their long-standing demand for the creation of a Union Territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people within India’s constitutional framework.
The statement concluded by affirming that “the path forward lies in dialogue, not division,” underscoring their commitment to peace, constitutional integrity, and the aspirations of the Kuki-Zo community.
