**Policy Summary: National Highway 02 Opening and Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement**
**Date:** September 4, 2025
**Issuing Agency:** Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI)
**Subject:** Opening of National Highway 02 and renegotiation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement involving the KukiZo Council (KZC), Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and United Peoples Front (UPF) with the Government of Manipur.
**Key Decisions and Agreements:**
* The KukiZo Council (KZC) has agreed to open National Highway 02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods, following meetings with MHA officials in New Delhi. The KZC has pledged cooperation with GoI security forces deployed to maintain peace along NH02.
* A tripartite meeting was held in New Delhi among representatives of the MHA, the Government of Manipur, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and the United Peoples Front (UPF).
* This meeting resulted in the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement, with renegotiated terms, conditions, and ground rules, effective from the date of signing for a period of one year.
* The revised ground rules reiterate the territorial integrity of Manipur and the need for a negotiated solution to achieve lasting peace and stability in the state.
* The KNO and UPF have agreed to the following:
* Relocate seven designated camps away from conflict-vulnerable areas.
* Reduce the number of designated camps.
* Relocate weapons to the nearest Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) / Border Security Force (BSF) camps.
* Undergo stringent physical verification of cadres by Security Forces to delist any foreign nationals.
* The Joint Monitoring Group will closely monitor the enforcement of ground rules. Violations will be addressed firmly, potentially leading to a review of the SoO Agreement.
Key Entities Referenced
KukiZo Council: An organisation that decided to open National Highway 02 for movement of commuters and goods.
National Highway 02: A highway that was decided to be opened for free movement of commuters and essential goods by the KukiZo Council.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry that held meetings with KukiZo Council and other groups.
New Delhi: Location of meetings between the Ministry of Home Affairs, KukiZo Council, and other groups.
Government of Manipur: A party in the tripartite meeting regarding the Suspension of Operations agreement.
Kuki National Organisation: One of the parties (along with UPF) involved in the tripartite Suspension of Operations agreement with the MHA and the Government of Manipur.
United Peoples Front: One of the parties (along with KNO) involved in the tripartite Suspension of Operations agreement with the MHA and the Government of Manipur.
Suspension of Operations Agreement: A tripartite agreement between the MHA, Government of Manipur, Kuki National Organisation, and United Peoples Front, with renegotiated terms and conditions.
Ministry of Home Affairs
In a significant decision, the Kuki-Zo Council decides
to open the National Highway-02 for the free
movement of commuters and essential goods
The decision came after a series of meetings
between officials of MHA and a delegation of KZC in
the last few days at New Delhi
KZC has given commitment to cooperate with
Security Forces deployed by GoI to maintain peace
along NH-02
A tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA,
Govt. of Manipur, and Kuki National
Organisation/KNO and United People’s Front/UPF
also held at New Delhi
The meeting concluded with the signing of a
tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement
on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules)
to be effective from the day of signing of the
Agreement for a period of one year
Posted On: 04 SEP 2025 1:43PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant decision, the Kuki-Zo Council has decided today to open the National Highway-02
for the free movement of commuters and essential goods. The decision came after a series of
meetings between officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of KZC in the last
few days at New Delhi. KZC has given commitment to cooperate with Security Forces deployed byGoI to maintain peace along NH-02.
2. Side by side, a tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA, Govt. of Manipur, and Kuki National
Organisation/KNO and United People’s Front/UPF was also held at New Delhi today. The meeting
concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement on re-negotiated terms
and conditions (ground rules) to be effective from the day of signing of the Agreement for a period of one
year. Among other provisions, the revised ground rules reiterated:
i. The territorial integrity of Manipur.
ii. Need for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the State of Manipur.
3. KNO and UPF have also agreed to:
i. Relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict.
ii. Reduce the number of designated camps.
iii. Relocate the weapons with nearest CRPF/BSF camps.
iv. Stringent physical verification of cadres by Security Forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.
4. Joint Monitoring Group will henceforth closely monitor enforcement of ground rules, and violations will
be dealt with firmly in future, including review of the SoO Agreement.
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RK/VV/RR/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2163644)