Desk Correspondent , Imphal - The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Manipur state government have officially resumed dialogue with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups currently under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact. This move comes as the Centre attempts to stabilize the region following a fresh surge in ethnic violence.

Representatives from the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organization (KNO)—the two umbrella bodies representing over two dozen militant groups—met with government officials in New Delhi. The discussions focused on maintaining the ground rules of the SoO agreement and exploring a long-term political solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

The talks are particularly significant as they follow a period of heightened tension where the state government had previously expressed intentions to withdraw from the pact, accusing certain groups of instigating violence. However, the Union government has maintained the ceasefire to prevent a full-scale armed escalation.

Security experts view this resumption as a critical step toward de-escalation. While the immediate goal is to ensure the insurgent groups remain in their designated camps, the broader objective is to bridge the administrative and communal vacuum that has persisted since May 2023. Further rounds of negotiations are expected as the Ministry seeks to balance the demands of both ethnic stakeholders in the sensitive border state.