Former Intelligence Bureau special director AK Mishra arrived at Dimapur on Saturday to hold talks with the NSCN (IM).
Mishra arrived in the state just two days after former Nagaland Governor and interlocutor for Naga talks RN Ravi left the state to assume his new assignment as Tamil Nadu Governor,
The meeting with NSCN(IM) is scheduled for September 20 at Chumukedima police complex in Dimapur.
Mishra along with IB director Arvind Kumar was tasked by the Prime Minister’s Office Iast year to carry forward the talks with the NSCN (IM) after Ravi’s relationship with the outfit took a hit following his alleged twisting of the Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015 and closeness with other Naga political groups.
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While talks are doing the rounds that Ravi would be removed as the interlocutor, the Government of India has not yet announced a new interlocutor to replace him.
The NSCN (IM) demanded the removal of Ravi as the interlocutor alleging that his “mischief” had led the Naga peace process to a “nauseating end” while the Naga national political groups opposed his removal.
Both the NSCN (IM) and the Naga national political groups are in talks with the Centre to find a final solution to the Naga issue.
Ravi earlier declared that the official talks with all the Naga political groups were over on October 31, 2019.
Ravi, who was appointed as the interlocutor in 2014, also initiated the signing of the Agreed Position with the Naga national political groups, comprising seven outfits, on November 17, 2017.
The NSCN (IM), in a recent statement, said the Framework Agreement clearly reflects the unique history of the Nagas and shared sovereignty of the two entities.
It has been insisting that there can be no solution to the Naga issue without a separate Naga flag and constitution.
It said the Naga national identity symbolised by the Naga flag and constitution cannot be sacrificed and put on the bargaining table in exchange for anything.
The outfit also affirmed that it will stick to the agreement in any eventuality while stating that both the parties have much to gain from the Framework Agreement.