Imphal : The Central government, the Manipur government and the United Naga Council (UNC) on Monday held another round of tripartite talks in Imphal on issues related to border fencing and the Free Movement Regime (FMR), agreeing to maintain status quo and continue dialogue in January 2026.

The government side was led by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), while a nine-member UNC delegation was headed by its president Ng Lorho.

According to UNC leaders, both sides agreed that the status quo on the border fencing issue would be maintained until a mutually acceptable solution is arrived at. They also acknowledged the need to jointly explore ways and means for a permanent resolution to the long-pending concerns. The next round of talks has been scheduled for January 2026.

During the meeting, the UNC raised concerns over what it described as “unreasonable checking” by security agencies, alleging that such measures amounted to harassment of the general public. Government representatives, the UNC said, assured the delegation that the issue would be examined.

The fresh round of talks comes in the backdrop of strained negotiations earlier this year. On August 26, talks between UNC-led Naga organisations and government representatives in New Delhi on FMR and border fencing had ended in a deadlock. Following the impasse, the UNC announced a “trade embargo in Naga areas” under its jurisdiction from midnight of September 8, 2025, although the agitation was withdrawn a few days later.

An 11-member Naga delegation had met an eight-member government team on August 26 at Subramanyam Bharati Marg in Delhi, but discussions failed to yield consensus. UNC leaders had then conveyed to the government that for dialogue to continue meaningfully, ongoing border fencing works should be kept on hold.

Monday’s Imphal meeting marks a renewed attempt by all stakeholders to keep the dialogue process alive amid sensitivities surrounding border management and traditional movement rights along the India-Myanmar frontier.

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