Mizoram, Assam agree to continue to promote and maintain peace along inter-state border

Mizoram and Assam on Friday agreed to continue to promote and maintain peace along the inter-state border in efforts to resolve the long pending boundary dispute. The representatives of both the states held a ministerial-level meeting in Aizawl on Friday for the fourth time  3 years after the violent clash took place on the disputed area near Mizoram’s Vairengte town in July 2021. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Assam border protection and development minister Atul Bora, who headed the neighbouring state’s delegation, said that the meeting was very positive and conducive. He said that both states are committed to find solutions to amicably resolve the long pending border dispute. Bora said that both states agreed to promote and maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents along the inter-state border. The meeting also decided that concerned administrative authorities of border districts of both states will organise joint cultural and sports festivals commencing before 31 March next year to improve relations, Bora said.

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to continue with zero tolerance policy towards transportation of smuggled areca nuts from neighbouring countries, he said.Mizoram home minister K. Sapdanga, who headed the Mizoram delegation, expressed optimism that the vexed border dispute would be resolved  sooner or later. The joint statement issued by both the delegations said that both the states reaffirmed the good will mission between the two neighbouring states to take forward the commitment and initiatives made in the meeting of chief ministers of the two states in February to resolve the border dispute.

Both states also reaffirmed all the decisions of previous meetings and all pending discussions and decisions to be made on the issue and other related matters will be taken up by officials of both states, the joint statement said. Both delegations also agreed to hold the next round of ministerial-level talks in Guwahati before 31 March next year, it said.