ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a viable framework of peace negotiations between the Government of India and three important ethnic armed actors in the northeastern part of India: the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the United National Liberation Front of Manipur (UNLF), and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur. The chapter argues that peace negotiations have not been meaningfully explored with the UNLF and the PLA of Manipur due to the absence of both 'back channel' negotiations and resistance to dialogue on the part of the armed groups. This resistance stems from a deep-seated suspicion on the part of the armed groups that the state is not serious about its peace overtures. The chapter posits that talks with the ULFA lack legitimacy, as the armed leaders did not come forward voluntarily for dialogue but were first arrested and then offered the hand of dialogue.
