Assam border oil exploration before ‘Indo-Naga’ political settlement is illegal: Naga extremist groups

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The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs), a conglomerate of seven extremist outfits, has opposed the agreement among the Centre, Assam and Nagaland to resume oil and gas exploration along the disputed border between the two States.

Nagaland is estimated to have 600 million tonnes of oil and natural gas reserves. Exploration in the State, particularly along its resource-rich border with Assam, was halted in the 1990s due to extremism and opposition from local organisations.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi on Thursday (June 11, 2026) to resume oil and gas exploration along the 512-km border shared by the two States. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio.

In a statement issued on Friday (June 12, 2026), the WC-NNPGs referred to the Agreed Position signed with the Centre in November 2017. The Agreed Position was an agreement between New Delhi and the WC-NNPGs intended to pave the way for a permanent settlement of the “Indo-Naga” political issue.

The WC-NNPGs said a clause in the Agreed Position provides that the Nagaland Tatar Hoho (Members of National Parliament) will legislate on the ownership and transfer of land and its resources, including mines, minerals, oil and natural gas, while the governments of India and Nagaland will jointly handle radioactive elements, which have national security relevance and implications.

“This implies a post-solution Nagaland government, and unless the Indo-Naga political settlement is officially signed across the table, any attempt to explore natural resources in Naga areas anywhere is illegal and against the agreed principles,” the WC-NNPGs said.

The conglomerate claimed that the disturbed area belt (DAB) was legally and historically part of the Naga homeland. It said