Talks with NSCN(IM) to continue, says Chidambaram

The government on Saturday, said talks with NSCN(IM) for finding a permanent political solution to the six-decade old Naga insurgency problem in the Northeast would continue with emphasis on ensuring strict enforcement of the ceasefire ground rules.

Union home minister P Chidambaram said here that he had held a comprehensive review of the talks which have been going on for the last seven-eight years.

He said the government has given its brief to Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah about the talks.

"He (Padmanabhaiah) will now continue the talks based on that brief," he said.

The talks towards a positive political solution are on, he said, adding the Government had also emphasised on ensuring that the "cease fire ground rules are strictly implemented and enforced."

Asked about the time-frame in completing the talks, the home minister said, "it is difficult to fix a time frame for a political solution."

NSCN(IM) has been negotiating with the Centre for the last seven years and over thirty rounds of talks have been held both in India and abroad.