Confusion over NH-02: Kuki-Zo Council denies reopening despite agreement with MHA

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has denied claims that National Highway-02 (Imphal–Dimapur) has been reopened, even as questions arise over the effectiveness of the September 4 agreement it signed with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In a statement, the KZC stressed that “no free movement has been permitted” along NH-02 and warned that no one from either the Meitei or Kuki-Zo communities should cross the Buffer Zone. The council underlined that there has been no settlement or agreement to the ongoing ethnic conflict, and any violation of the buffer arrangement could lead to “serious consequences and further deterioration of peace and security.”
The statement, however, stands in contrast to the September 4 agreement between the KZC and the MHA, which was projected as a breakthrough aimed at restoring safe passage along NH-02 with the cooperation of local stakeholders. While the MHA had directed security forces to ensure free and secure movement of vehicles, KZC’s clarification reveals deep-seated mistrust and reluctance to operationalize the deal on the ground.
The council maintained that its earlier appeal was only directed to the people of Kangpokpi to cooperate with security forces, not to declare NH-02 open for public use. By stressing that the buffer zone must remain inviolate, KZC has effectively questioned the enforceability of the MHA-mediated arrangement.
The notice also accused unnamed groups of twisting and misrepresenting its statement, which it said had generated “unnecessary confusion and mistrust at a sensitive time.” This comes amid public frustration in the valley over prolonged restrictions on highways, which remain a lifeline for supplies and connectivity.
Observers note that the contradiction between the MHA agreement and KZC’s latest clarification underscores the fragile nature of peace efforts in Manipur. With both sides unwilling to concede ground, agreements signed in Delhi risk losing credibility on the ground, where insecurity and ethnic divides remain entrenched.
The KZC’s insistence on strict enforcement of the buffer zone also highlights the absence of mutual trust that any peace framework desperately requires. For residents caught between politics and barricades, the impasse means continued suffering, rising prices of essentials, and an indefinite wait for normalcy.