"The Naga Insurgency: Multiple Attempts at a Long-Term Peace Settlement"
Speaker : Dr. Sanjal Shastri
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, FLAME University, Pune
@ : sshastri93@gmail.com
Chairperson : Dr. Binoy V. V.
Associate Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
@ :vvbinoy@nias.res.in
Date : 22nd July 2026
Time : 9.30 AM
Venue : Lecture Hall
Abstract: While Naga insurgent groups have signed a ceasefire, a long-term settlement is yet to be reached. The emergence of splinter groups and factional divides have further complicated negotiations. Post 2015, the NISN-IM has signed the Framework Agreement and the NSCN-K along with other factions have committed to the Agreed Position Accord. These developments have not led to a final peace agreement. This presentation takes a closer look at why a long-term settlement has been hard to find. Though groups like the NSCN-IM cite the demands for a 'Greater Nagaland', a separate flag and constitution as roadblocks, the reality is different. The paper authored by the presenter argues that for groups like the NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and other splinter organizations, the current ad-hoc mechanism is beneficial. It helps them maintain their alleged extortion networks and stake claim to a manufactured legitimacy at a time when public support on their violent tactics is declining. The continued relevance of these groups would be in question following a permanent peace settlement. As a result these groups have often acted as spoilers, stonewalling the negotiation process.
About the speaker: Dr. Sanjal Shastri is an assistant professor of International Studies at FLAME University, Pune. Dr. Shastri has a Doctoral Degree in Political Science from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He has an MA in Conflict and Terrorism Studies from the University of Auckland. Additionally, completed is MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research interests are in the field of Conflict Studies, Indian and South Asian Politics. At FLAME University he teaches papers on Comparative Politics, Indian Political System and Introduction and Peace and Conflict.