The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), which agreed to a ceasefire 27 years ago, has threatened to "resume the violent armed resistance against India" if the Union government did not "honour" the 2015 Framework Agreement that the two parties signed to settle the Naga political issue.

The insurgent group, which initially agreed to a ceasefire with the Indian government in 1997, stated in a five-page statement signed by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah that "we rule out peaceful means against the ignominious betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015." This follows several rounds of discussions in Delhi last month between leaders of NSCN (IM) – though not its 90-year-old leader Muivah – and the central government’s representative, A.K. Mishra. At the same time, the government is also engaged in separate talks with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), which represent seven Naga organisations excluding the NSCN (IM).

Last week, the NNPGs urged the central government to finalise a Naga agreement this year based on the “Agreed Position” they signed in 2017. Negotiations between the NSCN (I-M) and the Union Government have stalled, mainly over the demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution. Despite giving an ultimatum, Muivah indicated he is still open to talks, suggesting a “third-party intervention” as a last resort. 

“However, in the first place, we propose a third-party intervention to resolve the betrayal of the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 but if such a political initiative is rejected by the GoI, the NSCN shall resume the violent armed resistance against India for defending the Nagalim unique history and her sovereign existence,” reads the statement. Sources claim that a foreign mediator is being interpreted as the "third party" mentioned in the statement.

Reiterating his position that a political agreement on the Naga issue must be based on the Framework Agreement and the NSCN (IM)'s interpretation of it, Muivah stated in his statement that the "letter and spirit" of the Framework Agreement officially recognised and acknowledged a sovereign Naga national flag and Constitution. "Nagalim and the NSCN will not wait forever for the GoI to respect and honour the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement… neither shall we wait for the GoI to recognise and acknowledge Nagalim sovereign national flag and Nagalim sovereign national constitution in the political agreement," Muivah said.

Even after the NSCN (IM) and the central government signed the Framework Agreement in 2015, they have not yet reached a final agreement. Meanwhile, the government also began separate negotiations with the NNPGs, leading to a separate “Agreed Position” with them in 2017.