NSCN-IM Welcomes Appointment of Ajit Lal as India's New Interlocutor for Indo-Naga Political Talks

The NSCN-IM has welcomed the Government of India’s appointment of retired IPS officer and former Joint Intelligence Committee chairman Ajit Lal as the new interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks . In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSCN-IM described Lal’s appointment as a “significant and encouraging development”, saying it reflected the Centre’s renewed resolve to advance the peace process with seriousness and urgency. The organisation also welcomed the inclusion of a Union minister or a group of Union-level ministers in the negotiation framework, saying the move would help “expedite the political process” and build momentum towards what it described as an “honourable and enduring political settlement”. The NSCN-IM thanked the Nagaland government, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, for its “sincere participation and active facilitation” of the Indo-Naga political dialogue. According to the group, the state government’s engagement has helped sustain the peace process and keep the concerns of the Naga people central to the negotiations. The NSCN-IM also thanked the Naga people for their support and solidarity, describing their faith and resilience as a source of hope for a political solution. The group reiterated its commitment to pursuing an “honourable and enduring political solution” at the earliest and appealed to the Naga people to continue praying for a settlement in accordance with their collective aspirations. Lal, a retired IPS officer and former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, had previously led the Naga political talks from March to July 2014. He was also present at the signing of the tripartite agreement for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority involving the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, the Nagaland government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.