Border talks: Assam officials agree on expedited response to Mizoram govt’s claims

Aizawl: In the official-level dialogue on the border dispute between Mizoram and Assam govts held in Guwahati on Friday, it was agreed that Assam govt officials should respond expeditiously to the claims made by Mizoram govt in a letter to the Assam govt on Nov 28, 2023.
The next meeting between officials of the two neighbouring states is expected to take place again soon and this time it will be held in Mizoram to continue discussions on the claims made by Mizoram officials, according to a statement issued after the negotiations, Mizoram officials said.
The officials said the talks deliberated in detail about the state's stance regarding the 1875 notification based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873, as well as the state's claims sent to the Assam govt on Feb 13 and Nov 28, 2023. Mizoram's claims, based on 1875 notification about the conditions of different villages within the territory of the state as well as some areas and villages which have already been surrendered to Assam, were also thoroughly discussed. Mizoram has claimed that 62 villages in the disputed area are within its territory.
Both the sides decided to continue holding further talks in a cordial atmosphere with a determination to find long-lasting solution to the vexed and longstanding boundary dispute.
The talks were held at Rohika, AAU-International Guest House, Khanapara in Guwahati in a cordial atmosphere and mutual trust, a senior state home department official told TOI over phone. A seven-member Mizoram official delegation was led by state home secretary Vanlalmawia, while a six-member Assam delegation was led by border protection & development department secretary Prabhati Thaosen, comprising officials of Assam's border protection & development and home departments.
Deputy commissioners of Cachar, Hailakandi and Sribhumi districts of Assam also joined the negotiations through video conference.
It was also agreed in the talks that the status quo should be maintained along the dispute areas and Assam district DCs in bordering Mizoram should pursue the matter by stopping all activities in the areas, as such exercises can escalate tensions along the border.
Though sporadic incidents of violence related to the border dispute occurred along the 123km on sevaral occasions in the past, attempts to resolve the long-standing border issue had progessed at a snail's pace until July 26, 2021 when firing between the two state police personnel resulted in the deaths of five Assam policemen.
Assam govt began to keep the ball rolling when Atul Bora-led Assam team visited Mizoram on Aug 5 that year as a goodwill and peace mission delegation. Since then, three rounds of negotiations have been held in Aizawl and one round in Guwahati. Former CM Zoramthanga and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma also had held talks in New Delhi twice in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah.