In a significant move towards resolving the long-standing border dispute between Mizoram and Assam, a seven-member delegation from Mizoram is set to travel to Guwahati on April 24 to participate in official-level talks with their counterparts from Assam. The meeting is scheduled to be held the following day, April 25. According to a senior Mizoram official, the delegation will be led by Mizoram Home Secretary Vanlalmawia. On the Assam side, the talks are expected to be headed by a senior official, likely a principal secretary or secretary from the Border Protection and Development Department. This upcoming dialogue marks a crucial step in paving the way for the next round of ministerial-level discussions between the two states. The focus of the April 25 meeting will be on finalising technical modalities, addressing procedural groundwork, and aligning mutual expectations to ensure smoother dialogue at the higher political level in the near future. The border issue between Mizoram and Assam has remained a sensitive and unresolved matter for decades. The two states share a 164.6-kilometre boundary, where Mizoram’s districts of Aizawl, Kolasib, and Mamit border Assam’s districts of Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.
The crux of the dispute stems from conflicting interpretations of colonial-era demarcations. Mizoram bases its claims on a boundary drawn in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), which identifies 509 square miles of the Inner Line Reserved Forest (ILRF) as part of Mizoram’s territory. Assam, on the other hand, upholds a boundary drawn in 1933 by the Survey of India, which it claims as the legal and constitutional demarcation. These overlapping claims have resulted in multiple instances of tension and occasional clashes along the border, with local communities often caught in the crossfire. Despite repeated efforts over the years, no formal ground demarcation has been carried out so far, further complicating the situation. The last ministerial-level meeting between the two states took place in Aizawl on August 9, 2024. Although it marked a positive gesture of continued engagement, concrete solutions have remained elusive. Officials from both sides hope that sustained dialogue, starting from the official level, will lay the foundation for a peaceful and lasting resolution.
Meanwhile, public sentiment remains mixed in the border areas, with many residents hoping that the renewed talks will bring stability and clarity to their daily lives. Civil society organisations in both states have also urged the respective governments to prioritise peaceful negotiations and avoid further confrontations. As April 25 approaches, all eyes will be on Guwahati, where both delegations are expected to deliberate extensively over technical issues and chart out a structured roadmap for the future.
