Resolution of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute is anticipated before November's end: Pema Khandu

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• Oct 31, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

Digital Desk: Following a meeting between the two parties in Itanagar on
Monday, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the boundary
dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh could be settled "once and for
all" by the end of November.

The conference between the two states was the last before a decision was
made, according to Khandu and other senior Assamese ministers present,
including minister of border protection and development Atul Bora.

For a definitive
agreement and long-term solution, me and my Assam colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma
will meet once again. By the end of November, we both intend to put our issues
behind us, Khandu told reporters.

By signing the Namsai
Declaration in July of this year, both states agreed to reduce the number of
disputed villages from 123 to 86 and settle the boundary dispute by
establishing 12 committees, each headed by a cabinet minister, who would travel
to the disputed areas, gather input from locals, and submit reports to their
respective governments.

"Today, we had a
thorough discussion of these reports per district. The committees of both
states have truly and cooperatively sought to find a long-term solution to this
boundary issue, and I am pleased that all reports are good in substance, said Khandu.

Atul Bora, the
minister responsible for Assam's border development, concurred, stating that
the state's resolution with Meghalaya will be similar, and he asked for support
from locals in both states' border regions.

The purpose of today's
meeting was to discuss the committees' reports in order to find a quick fix. On
one point of contention, there is still no agreement, but we anticipate it
happening soon. Soon, there will be a meeting between the chief ministers of
the two states, he promised.

The shared border
between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is 804 kilometres long. Although there was
initially no conflict, claims that citizens of one state were encroaching on
the territory of the other have since given rise to conflict and even violence.
Since 1989, a lawsuit about the matter has been pending before the Supreme
Court.

Last year, both states decided to address their border
dispute through negotiations at the urging of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Union Home Minister Amit Shah.