ABSTRACT
One of the cases of counter-insurgency in India that succeeded in incentivizing the armed group, the Mizo National Front (MNF), to accept the political process and participate in Indian democracy is that of Mizoram. A 20-year-old insurgency was resolved due to a mix of factors that included peace negotiations, indigenous mediators, and civil society. This chapter throws light on the Indian counter-insurgency operations in the Mizo areas, which included a 'grouping of villages' strategy. While conflict in Mizoram appears to be resolved, issues of identity, and resistance to imposition of a pan-Indian identity continue to simmer. The Mizo conflict resolution process makes it clear that resolving ethnic separatist conflicts requires time, patience, prudent political leadership at the federal level, an open and healthy dialogue between conflicting actors in order to build trust and work towards peace. The success of this process supports the fact that the Gandhian approach proved successful in the transformation of the conflict dynamics.
