BANGKOK, Dec 9 ? After three rounds of talks with the Centre?s pointman K Padmanabaiah here, Naga rebel group NSCN(IM) today said that ?integration of Naga areas? is a non-negotiable issue even as the two sides agreed in to meet in New Delhi in the near future to ?maintain the pace? of negotiations, reports PTI.
In a joint statement issued at the end of the parleys which began on Saturday, they said they held ?serious discussions on all substantive issues?. ?Both parties are pleased with the progress that was made on a number of important issues,? said the statement signed by T Muivah, NSCN(IM) general secretary, and Padmanabaiah.
Asked if the NSCN(IM) had accepted the reported views of the Indian Government over the integration issue, Rai Sing, a member of the NSCN(IM) Steering Committee who was present at the meeting, told PTI here that ?Padmanabaiah has explained the Indian Government?s point of view.?
?The integration issue had appeared in some sections of the press during (Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee?s) visit to Kohima. May be he was misquoted ...? Rai Sing said adding that integration was a non-negotiable subject. Rai Sing said that during the parleys ?they (the Indian Government) explained their point of view and we have given our view.?
He said all substantive issues were still under discussion. ?Integration is not the main issue. It is not the will of India or of any others but the will of the Naga people,? he said. The joint statement said that the two sides ?have agreed to hold the next round of talks as soon as feasible in order to maintain the pace of talks.? It was decided that in the near future another round of talks will be held in New Delhi.