Aizawl, Sept 11: The Assam government has extended an invitation to the Mizoram government for the fourth round of minister-level talks on the interstate border dispute issue in Aizawl soon, a senior official of Mizoram home department said on Monday. While the formal response from the Mizoram government is pending, the proposal aims to establish modalities for resolving the long-standing border issue.
The suggestion includes the formation of a regional committee comprising representatives from both states to facilitate negotiations during the proposed talks. Mizoram authorities have welcomed the idea of engaging in detailed discussions at the official level before progressing to ministerial-level negotiations, citing the submission of detailed claims to the Assam government.
The border disputes between Mizoram and Assam have persisted over the years, leading to sporadic violent incidents along the 164-kilometer border shared by the two states. Despite the tensions, significant efforts have not been made to resolve the issue until recently.
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The situation escalated in July 2021 when violent clashes erupted between police personnel from Mizoram and Assam along the border, resulting in the tragic death of five Assam Police personnel. Following this incident, both state governments initiated negotiations at various levels to address the long-standing border dispute.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and his Assam counterpart engaged in two rounds of talks in Delhi. Additionally, three rounds of negotiations were conducted between Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana and Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora. These discussions aimed to find a peaceful and mutually agreeable solution to the border tensions.
As the formal response from the Mizoram government is awaited, the proposed fourth round of talks signifies a continued commitment to resolving the border dispute through dialogue and diplomatic means. The involvement of a regional committee could potentially facilitate a more comprehensive and structured discussion on the intricate details of the issue.
Both states hope that these talks will lead to a peaceful resolution, alleviating the tensions that have persisted for years and fostering better relations along their shared border. The willingness to engage in negotiations at both official and ministerial levels demonstrates the dedication of the governments of Assam and Mizoram to finding a mutually acceptable solution to this challenging and sensitive matter.
