Nagalim Voice-June 2026
Q & A with the Honourable Keya Kilonser (Defense Minister), Mr. Z. Pienyii Angami on the current Situation at Southern Nagalim
Background Context:
Recent tensions in Ukhrul and adjoining Naga sovereign ancestral areas have intensified amid allegations by the NSCN/GPRN that Kuki militant groups, Indian security agencies, and external actors are involved in a “proxy war” targeting Naga territories and political aspirations. Reports from multiple regional outlets mention village burnings, armed confrontations, allegations of collusion, and increasing militarization in the region.
Q: Please describe the current condition of the Nagas in Manipur in a nutshell.
A: The situation in Southern Nagalim in the state of Manipur is simply a deliberate and imposed proxy war being waged by the Government of India (GoI) in their mischievous attempt to divert and undermine the long-drawn Indo-Naga peace process. They are arming the Kukis and feeding them with bizarre and highly inflammable ideas just to create and sustain the chaos in the region. This is a dangerous game of dirty politics in which Naga people will suffer; India will keep bleeding and definitely Kukis will be the loser in the end.
Q: The GPRN has repeatedly alleged that Kuki armed groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) are being used as surrogates to strategically undermine the Naga interests. What concrete evidence does the GPRN possess to support this claim?
A: What more evidence do we need to confirm their nexus when pictures and videos of their joint operations and conversations is abound in the media? Besides, credible sources from our Ceasefire Monitoring Office have revealed that the top shots of the Assam Rifles when confronted for Ceasefire ground rules violations, admitted that they themselves were helpless since they had strict orders from higher authority to protect the Kukis at all costs.
Q: What could be the reason for the GoI’s obsessive interest in the Kuki affairs? Does the GPRN believe the Government of India has lost neutrality in the conflict?
A: Good question! We have been monitoring the situation closely and we have come to certain conclusions:
The main reason, of course is, as hinted earlier, to undermine the Framework Agreement, which the GoI is trying to undo. God forbid the backtrackers! For reasons best known to the Indian leaders, they seem to have found a perfect diversion of Naga issue in entertaining the novel demands of the Kukis.
Secondly, through the intelligence inputs and advice from the IB (Intelligence Bureau) and R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing), the GoI is nurturing a strange idea of territorial expansion. As we are all conscious of the turmoil in Myanmar, in the likely event of the fall of the Junta Govt., Myanmar may disintegrate and India is eyeing to get some dividends. They are using the Kuki Militants to annex the Chin state and parts of Sagaing Division of Myanmar into the Union of India.
Thirdly, a handful of Kukis in recent years migrated to Israel, claiming themselves as descendants of the lost tribe of Manasseh. Some of them may be serving in the IDF. At the height of the recent Meitei-Kuki conflict, the Kuki leaders wrote a memorandum to the PM of Israel. It is believed that Benjamin Netanyahu might have hinted to Modi to look into the plight of the Kukis. Neither Netanyahu nor Modi has any knowledge of the ground situation. The reality is, the Kukis are the aggressors and we Nagas are forced to defend.
Q: What is the stand of GPRN in the ensuing ethnic related violence in Manipur?
A: Our position is clear: we will defend every inch of our land, whether in the South or North, East or West. Today, the innocent villagers are forced to take up arms to defend their own village. How can we remain a silent spectator?
To be continued…….