Our Bureau
Imphal
In a small but hopeful step, Manipur’s chief minister sat across the table from Kuki‑Zo leaders on Saturday in Guwahati, marking the first direct peace‑talk‑style meeting between the state government and the Kuki‑Zo Council in nearly three years. The two‑hour session came after months of rising tension and a long period of no formal talks between the two sides.
The meeting took place in Assam’s capital at a time when Manipur is still healing from the violent clashes that began in May 2023. More than two years later, hundreds remain displaced, many towns and villages are scarred, and trust between Meitei, Kuki‑Zo and Naga communities remains fragile. The chief minister described the talks as a “first step” towards rebuilding confidence and bringing normal life back to the hills and the valley.
Representatives from the Kuki‑Zo Council used the meeting to raise concerns about safety, justice for victims, and the need to keep security arrangements in place until a lasting political solution is reached. They also stressed that any peace must respect the rights and identity of all communities in the state. The chief minister said the government is ready to continue talks and urged all groups to help restore peace.
There were no big public announcements or signed deals at the end of the session. Officials on both sides said the meeting was more about opening the door to dialogue than closing issues. Yet, after years of silence and suspicion, even a simple sit‑down is being seen by many in Manipur as a quiet sign that the long road to peace may finally be starting to move forward.
