New Delhi, November 8, 2025: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has initiated formal talks with representatives of the Kuki-Zo armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement - the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF). The two-day dialogue, held on November 6 and 7, 2025, focused primarily on the long-standing demand for a Union Territory (UT) with a Legislative Assembly for the Kuki-Zo people.
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Led by senior KNO and UPF leaders, the tribal delegations discussed a range of administrative and political issues concerning Kuki-Zo inhabited areas with MHA Advisor (North East) AK Mishra. On the first day, deliberations centred on the implementation of the September 4 tripartite agreement between the MHA, the Manipur Government, and the SoO groups, emphasizing the need for improved administration and governance under prevailing circumstances.
The second day of talks focused on the political demand for a UT with a legislature, with KNO and UPF leaders asserting that coexistence under the Manipur state administration had become impossible since the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. The groups also invoked historical and constitutional grounds, noting that the Kuki-Zo Hills had never been part of the Manipur State Durbar before India’s Independence and were historically governed under separate administrative systems.
During the dialogue, the MHA acknowledged the Kuki-Zo community’s grievances but clarified that the formation of new Union Territories remains a sensitive issue. The Centre reiterated its commitment to peaceful dialogue and to ensuring security, rehabilitation, and development in the affected areas.
The discussions also addressed key community issues, including land tenure, forest rights, customary governance, and the protection of traditional chieftainship. The SoO groups urged the Centre to remove administrative barriers related to succession of village chiefs, land registration, and deed processing, which have become inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict.
The MHA assured that the concerns of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be prioritized, with rehabilitation and essential amenities to be expedited.
The talks are expected to continue, with both sides agreeing to maintain dialogue aimed at achieving a lasting political and administrative solution for the Kuki-Zo people.
