Ongoing Border Negotiations: Assam and Meghalaya Set for October Talks

 Guwahati:Meghalaya’s Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, announced today that border negotiations between Assam and Meghalaya will proceed with a new round of talks scheduled for October. This development follows ongoing efforts to address complex territorial disputes that have persisted for years between the two northeastern states.In a recent media briefing, Sangma highlighted the significance of maintaining open lines of communication, stating, “We have been conducting regular official meetings. I have also personally engaged in discussions with Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma ji. We have mutually agreed to continue our dialogue and meet. Given the complexity of the issues at hand, we need to delve into each matter in great detail… We are likely to meet in October.”The upcoming discussions will concentrate on six sensitive regions: Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-I & II, and Khanduli-Psiar. These areas have historically been sources of contention, and resolving the disputes surrounding them is anticipated to be more challenging than previous agreements. Both state governments have emphasized their commitment to a careful and thorough approach, given the sensitive nature of these border issues.The initial phase of negotiations successfully settled six of the twelve contentious regions, paving the way for more complex discussions in the upcoming talks. Sangma stressed the need for detailed dialogue to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each issue. To aid the negotiation process, regional committees from both states have conducted inspections of the disputed areas, gathering essential information to inform their discussions.As both states prepare for this crucial meeting, there is a shared hope that continued dialogue will lead to a peaceful resolution of these long-standing border disputes.