Northeast India

Over the years, endless corruption, mismanagement of funds, and failure to devolve power to the people has completely jeopardised the unique Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), leading to the rise of Karbi insurgency.

• Sushil Kumar Sharma
• June 20, 2016
• Policy Brief

While the economic-cum-strategic thrust towards CLMV countries has to be invigorated, a re-look at the Act East Policy is warranted to give it a more north-east development oriented under-pinning.

• Gautam Sen
• March 29, 2016
• IDSA Comments

For a state long thought to be a role model to other North-eastern states, Meghalaya has seen a steady rise in insurgency in the last few years. The Garo National Liberation Army has clearly emerged as a potent threat to security in Meghalaya and parts of Assam.

• Sushil Kumar Sharma
• March 18, 2016
• Policy Brief

The Meghalaya High Court’s order directing the central government to consider invoking AFSPA in the Garo Hills is more like an advisory premised on a number of High Court and Supreme Court judgments.

• Gautam Sen
• November 17, 2015
• IDSA Comments

A distinctive feature of insurgency in India’s North-East and neighbouring Myanmar has been the tendency among rebel groups to form alliances. Cooperation is deemed advantageous in a hostile terrain, against a powerful and better organised enemy. Several coalitions were formed in Myanmar by the separatist insurgent outfits with well-defined objectives which, however, failed to produce any significant impact on the campaign for independence of the region.

• Rajeev Bhattacharyya
• October 2015
• Journal of Defence Studies

The political imbroglio in Manipur has to be analysed through the prism of likely political gains and losses for the State`s major players, in juxtaposition to the scenario prevailing in adjoining States as well as inclinations of the Central Government.

• Gautam Sen
• September 29, 2015
• IDSA Comments

A resolution of one of the oldest armed ethnic conflicts in the Northeast offers a way forward to resolving many other ethnic conflicts in the region such as those involving Kukis, Meiteis, Bodos, Dimasas, Hmars, and Karbis.

• Namrata Goswami
• August 07, 2015
• IDSA Comments

The security audit should be done in a realistic frame and may include some interlocutors and officers of the C&AG`s department given their understanding of the functioning of the state government machinery at various tiers as well as their independence of approach.

• Gautam Sen
• July 15, 2015
• IDSA Comments

Obtaining Myanmar’s help to counter covert Chinese connections with insurgent groups like the UWSA and by extension with anti-India militant groups such as the NSCN (K) is important for long term stability in the Northeast.

• Namrata Goswami
• June 11, 2015
• IDSA Comments

The internal security situation in the North-eastern states is complex. It requires people with in-depth knowledge of the terrain, society, politics and culture and history of insurgency in the region to be placed in positions entrusted with the handling of affairs.

• Rumel Dahiya
• June 11, 2015
• Policy Brief