Assam, Nagaland CMs discuss border dispute resolution with Shah

In a significant development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio convened a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Parliament House on Monday. The leaders expressed gratitude to Shah, acknowledging his instrumental role in fostering peace and development in the North East region.

During the meeting, the Chief Ministers engaged in discussions aimed at finding amicable solutions to the longstanding inter-state boundary dispute and other matters of mutual interest between the two neighboring states. The leaders highlighted the need for cooperative efforts to address challenges and promote harmony in the region.

Taking to platform X, Chief Minister Sarma shared, “Met Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji & Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio ji in New Delhi today.” Nagaland Chief Minister Rio echoed similar sentiments in his tweet, stating, “Called on the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah along with Himanta Biswa Sarma, the CM of Assam. Grateful to him for his personal concern and commitment towards peace and development in Nagaland and the entire Northeast region.”

The decades-old border dispute cases between Nagaland and Assam have been pending in the Supreme Court for an extended period. Despite the legal proceedings, the Chief Ministers of the two states have been actively engaging in multiple rounds of meetings to explore out-of-court settlements. It may be mentioned that over the years, several incidents of armed conflict along the border have resulted in casualties, primarily on the Assam side. Incidents in 1979, 1985, 2007, and 2014 have left a grim legacy, prompting intensified efforts to find a lasting resolution to the historical tensions.