CHIANGMAI, May 5 ?After holding a fresh round of dialogue for two days with NSCN (I-M) leaders here, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee?s emissary K Padmanabaiah today said though steady progress has been made but there was no ?dramatic development.? ?There has been a steady progress in the talks, may be a bit slow, but no dramatic developments to report,? Padmanabaiah told PTI at the end of the fifth round of meeting this morning at this northern Thai city of Chiangmai. He said there was a good understanding of each other?s problems and the two sides were ?trying to work out a solution to the complex issue.?
The special envoy said the two sides would meet again at the end of June. The ceasefire, which expires on July 31, was not taken up at these talks but could figure in the next meeting, he added. The NSCN (I-M) group was represented by its top leaders T Muivah, Su and Rai Sing at the talks. Sing said both sides were firmly committed to ?hammer out tangible solutions to the issue.? He did not elaborate. Padmanabaiah has in the past met NSCN (I-M) leaders at Bangkok and the Hague and has arranged their meetings with Vajpayee in France and Japan.
The NSCN (I-M) was expected to put forward a ?blue print? for peace during its meeting with Padmanabaiah. The Centre has already withdrawn the arrest warrants against Muivah and Swu and is considering other steps to allow them to come to India, Home Ministry sources had said ahead of Padmanabaiah?s departure to Thailand. The Centre agreed to a ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) in August 1997 and has been extending it every year. Meanwhile, according to Aizwal report : Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga would participate in the coming round of talks between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) in Bangkok, sources in the Chief Minister?s office said here today.