Parents walking with their children through dangerous road

The fourth round of minister level talks to find amicable and long lasting solution to the Mizoram-Assam border dispute held in Aizawl on Friday decided that all pending discussions and decisions to be made on the issue and other connected matters shall be taken up by officials of both the State Governments. A joint statement issued after the parleys reaffirmed that the Goodwill Mission’ between the Government of Mizoram and the Government of Assam held on 9th August, 2024 at Aizawl, Mizoram is to take forward the firm commitment and initiative made in the meeting on 9th February, 2024 between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram for resolution of the inter-State boundary dispute in an atmosphere of understanding and goodwill between the two States. “Both the States agreed to continue to promote and maintain peace and harmony and prevent any untoward incidents along the interState border. Joint Cultural and Sports festivals may be organised at frequent intervals by concerned administrative authorities of the inter state border districts of Mizoram and Assam to start before 31st January, 2025,” the joint statement said.

Both the States reaffirmed the decisions of the Joint Statements of all the previous meetings to arrive at an amicable resolution on the vexed border issues. It has been decided that all pending discussions and decisions to be made on the issue and other connected matters shall be taken up by officials of both the State Governments. This will be followed by a series of meetings to be held at venues decided by both officials. It was further decided that next Ministerial level meeting will take place in Guwahati, Assambefore 31s March, 2025. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue sustained zero tolerance policy against transportation of smuggled arecanut from other countries, the statement said, adding Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of both States shall continue to have regular meetings to promote peace and harmony along the inter-State border. Such meetings may be held virtually each month and in person every six months.

The Delegations jointly agreed that the cooperation of the people living on both sides of the States is extremely crucial for a peaceful solution of border disputes. The general public and all stakeholders are expected to bring any differences on border issues to the appropriate authorities without taking law into their own hands. The negotiations were held at the state guest house in Aizawl. Mizoram delegation was headed by home ministerK. Sapdanga while Assamdelegation was led by border protection and development minister Atul Bora.Senior officials of the home departments of both the states were also present in the talks. It may be noted that 3 districts of Mizoram – Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit-share a 164.6 km-long interstate boundary with Assam’s Cachar, Karmganj andHailankandi districts. Even as several parleys to solve the boundary dispute between Mizoram andAssam had taken place, sincere efforts to find long lasting solution came only after the dispute took an ugly turn on July 26, 2021 when a shootout between armed police personnel of both the state governments at the outskirts of Assam borderVairengte town resulted in the deaths of 5 Assam policemen.