Chinese agencies trying to disrupt, delay Naga peace settlement: Intel

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 24

Going beyond snooping high-value individuals in India, sources in the security establishment have said Chinese intelligence agencies have been working overtime in north-eastern states to somehow influence rebel leaders to further deepen ‘internal’ unrest and delay the ongoing peace process in the region.

Security sources said the Intelligence Bureau (IB) input on Chinese design in the north-east of India has been shared with top functionaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and they have been working on it.  

It was only with this intent to thwart the Chinese influence NSCN (I-M) leadership the government changed tact and assigned the task of engaging the main Naga insurgent group’s general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to the top IB officials, they said.

The action of Chinese intelligence agencies coincided with problem in Galwan Valley in June, as the sources said it was almost the same time when Muivah, after agreeing on all the major issues, including separate Constitution and flag, suddenly changed his stand and started questioning the intent of Centre’s interlocutor RN Ravi for the peace talks.

Sources said it is known to all in the Indian security establishment that Chinese agencies have a very strong connection with NSCN (I-M) leaders, who had been taking shelter in China since 1966 before the ceasefire agreement was signed.

Incidentally, NSCN (I-M) chairman Q. Tuccu, vice president Tongmeth Wangnao and 13 others are here in the National Capital and joined general secretary Muivah in the ongoing informal talks with IB officials. But, sources said, the apparent differences in the ranks of the Naga outfit was quite visible, as its chairman Tuccu and his team chose to stay at a separate location in the city despite the Centre having arranged accommodation for both the chairman and the general secretary at one place.