Nagaland
Asia's oldest insurgency born one day before Indian independence in land where WWII's Pacific tide turned
The Naga insurgency is older than the Indian republic. In 1947, Angami Zapu Phizo declared Naga independence one day before India's own. The armed struggle that followed has killed 20,000 people across nearly eight decades, making it India's longest-running separatist conflict.
The Nagas comprise 16 major tribes spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Myanmar's Sagaing Region. Their demand has remained consistent: unification of all Naga-inhabited areas into a single homeland called Nagalim, covering 120,000 square kilometers. Current Nagaland state encompasses only 16,527 square kilometers. The math defines the deadlock.
Various accords have attempted resolution. The 1975 Shillong Accord failed when key leaders rejected it and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland. That group split into factions, the most powerful being NSCN(IM), led by Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. A 1997 ceasefire ended active combat. Talks commenced.
On August 3, 2015, after 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, Prime Minister Modi presided over the signing of the Framework Agreement between NSCN(IM) and the government. The agreement recognized Nagas' unique history, culture, and position and introduced the concept of shared sovereignty. Both sides claimed victory. Neither disclosed the precise terms.
Six hundred rounds of negotiations later, the accord remains unsigned. NSCN(IM) insists the framework promised a separate Naga flag and constitution. The government, particularly after revoking Kashmir's special status in 2019, refuses to concede such symbols. Greater Nagalim would require carving territory from four Indian states and Myanmar, terrifying neighbors.
Meanwhile, Nagaland has transformed culturally. Baptist Christianity, introduced by American missionaries in the late 19th century, now claims approximately 90% of the population. The Hornbill Festival draws tourists to Kohima each December. Young Nagas increasingly question whether their grandparents' dreams of Nagalim matter more than jobs and connectivity.
By 2026, the Framework Agreement turns eleven years old with no final accord. Analysts suggest the romance with insurgency has faded and returning to war is nearly impossible. Yet without resolution, Nagaland remains suspended between war and peace, framework and fulfillment.