New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday stated that the entire northeast region, with the exception of one or two states, could be removed from the purview of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) by next year. Speaking at the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) among the Centre, the government of Assam, and the government of Nagaland for oil and mineral exploration along the Assam-Nagaland border, Shah emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to establish lasting peace and promote development in the northeast.
Shah noted that since 2019, a dozen peace pacts have been signed, leading to an 80% reduction in violent incidents and an 80% reduction in the area under AFSPA. He highlighted that the agreement on oil and mineral exploration in the disputed area belt (DAB) on the Assam-Nagaland border, which had been stalled for over three decades due to jurisdictional issues, would drive further progress in the northeast. This initiative is also expected to contribute to India's self-reliance in meeting its energy requirements, especially amid the ongoing energy crisis caused by tensions in West Asia.
“With just one MoU, the extraction capacity of 1,000-1,500 barrels per day can be increased by 10 times,” Shah said. The agreement marks a significant step toward resolving long-standing disputes and boosting economic development in the region.
