Tripura Insurgency Ends

A historic peace agreement was signed in New Delhi, marking the end of a 35-year insurgency in Tripura. Two insurgent groups (National Liberation Front of Tripura, and All Tripura Tiger Force) in Tripura have agreed to give up arms and join the mainstream. With the singing of this agreement, Tripura is left with no insurgent groups after many decades.

Key Details of the Agreement

• The agreement outlines the surrender of arms by over 328 cadres from the NLFT and ATTF.
  • The insurgency in Tripura, which began in 1967, peaked in the late 1980s with the rise of the NLFT and ATTF.
• To facilitate the transition, the Central Government has sanctioned a ?250-crore package to assist former insurgents in reintegrating into society and accessing various development schemes.
• The Northeastern region of India, encompassing Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, has faced persistent internal security challenges for decades. This area has been afflicted by a variety of issues including insurgency, ethnic conflicts, economic marginalization, and cross-border infiltration.
• This accord marks the 12th settlement for the Northeast region and the third related to Tripura.
• It follows several significant peace agreements in the region, including:
  • Achik National Volunteer Council agreement (2014)
  • National Liberation Front of Twipra (Sabir Kumar Debbarma) of 2019
  • Bru Accord (2020)
  • Bodo Accord (2020)
  • Karbi Accord (2021)
  • Tribal Peace Agreement (2022)
  • Dimasa National Liberation Army Agreement (2023)
  • Assam-Meghalaya Interstate Border Agreement (2022)
  • Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Inter-State Boundary Agreement (2023)
• The scope of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, has also been reduced in many parts of the northeast as peace returned gradually.

Government Measures for North-East

The NER a strategic geographical location situated between India and Southeast Asia over the Bay of Bengal, has emerged as a precinct of promoting development and economic opportunities with international cooperation. The government has taken various initiatives to develop the region, including-

• Act East Policy: Launched in 2014, this policy aims to enhance economic ties between India and ASEAN countries, as well as other East Asian nations. It emphasizes the strategic importance of the Northeast for fostering regional cooperation and development.
• Act East Forum: Initiated in 2017 through a partnership between India and Japan, this forum facilitates close discussions and collaborative efforts focused on the development of the Northeast. It underscores the commitment to leveraging international partnerships for regional advancement.
• Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Initiative: In March 2023, Japan launched a new initiative under FOIP to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative includes a tripartite collaboration between India, Japan, and Australia, aimed at enhancing connectivity between the Northeast and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
• Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC): BIMSTEC plays a crucial role in facilitating connections and cooperation with countries bordering the Northeast. It supports the development of economic and technical links crucial for the region's progress.
• Connectivity Projects: India actively pursues regional connectivity with Myanmar through critical projects like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project (KMMP) and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Project (IMTTP).
  • The KMMP aims to improve connectivity to India’s NER via Bangladesh and Myanmar, linking India’s Kolkata port to Myanmar’s Sittwe port and extending to Mizoram through highways in Myanmar.
  • The IMTTP, conversely, will connect India’s border town, Moreh, to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, establishing a land route for seamless trade, business, education, and tourism among all three countries.