New Delhi, Apr 03: In a bid to further the Naga peace process, informal discussions between NSCN(I-M) leadership and Centre's special emissary K Padmanabhaiah are likely to be held abroad next week. These consultations would be followed by another round of formal talks in new Delhi in the next few months, Padmanabhaiah told a news agency in an interview here.
"While it is difficult to put a time-limit as to when the peace accord would be finalised, the climate at present is extremely favourable for working out a settlement," he said. Replying to questions on various aspects of the Naga peace process, he said the newly-elected coalition government in Nagaland was not only favouring the process, but it also has three major NDA partners and nine NDA ministers.

Besides, the NSCN (Khaplang) faction was also "taking a positive attitude" towards the peace talks, he said.


Asked to comment on reports that the Centre aimed at "disarming" the NSCN(I-M) cadres through the peace talks, he said "the question of laying down of arms will arise only when a final settlement is reached ... It is only at that stage.

"But in the current phase, the question of laying down of arms not relevant at all. It does not arise", the Centre's interlocutor said.

Padmanabhaiah cited examples of LTTE and Irish Republican Army saying "they were fighting for a cause, but only when a political settlement is arrived at, will they disarm". Bureau Report