Nagaland Congress Committee Calls for Faster Peace Process Resolution and Transparency on Oil Exploration Pact

A call for faster resolution of the long-standing Naga peace process, early activation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), and disclosure of an oil exploration pact between Assam and Nagaland has been made by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC). The resolutions were adopted unanimously at a PAC meeting held on June 25 at Congress Bhavan in Kohima. The committee expressed concern over the slow progress in implementing the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position, holding both the Union government and the Nagaland government responsible for the delay. It also criticised the state government’s proposal to appoint a minister-level political interlocutor, stating that it could further slow the peace process. The PAC said the peace process must lead to a broadly agreed settlement ensuring long-term stability and development in Nagaland. The committee termed the delay in operationalising the FNTA agreement as unacceptable, holding both central and state authorities accountable for unresolved issues following the pact. It called for swift resolution of pending matters to meet the aspirations of people in the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) areas. Questions were also raised regarding a recently signed tripartite MoU between Assam and Nagaland, facilitated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, covering the resumption of crude oil and natural gas exploration in disputed border regions. The PAC expressed concern over the non-disclosure of the oil exploration agreement involving Assam and Nagaland and called for full transparency. It cautioned that any arrangement affecting land or revenue rights would not be tolerated.