Centre, NSCN(IM) hold talks, not much progress

In efforts to find a lasting solution to the vexed insurgency problem in Nagaland, NSCN(IM) and government's interlocutor today held another round of peace talks discussing contentious issues, including the rebels' demand for autonomy.
However, there was not much progress in the parleys as interlocutor R S Pandey did not give any commitment on NSCN(IM)'s key demand except saying the issue needs to be discussed further extensively, sources said.
The dialogue was held after a year's gap and both sides agreed to meet again soon to take forward the peace process.
Top leadership of NSCN(IM), led by chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, also put forward their views on "special federal relationship" the outfit wants between "Nagalim and India", sources said.

Earlier, Muivah had "blamed" the government for "failing" to solve the protracted "Indo-Naga political problem".
Muivah alleged many opportunities were lost due to delay in the talks, which has been going on since 1997, and accused the Centre of adopting "delay tactics".
Pandey refused to say anything on delay.
NSCN(IM) entered into truce with the government of India in 1997 and since then more than 80 rounds of talks were held between the Centre and the outfit led by Swu and Muivah without any concrete outcome in the last 16 years of truce.