New Delhi, September 4, 2025: The Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) along with the United People’s Front (UPF) have extended the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement until 2025. The extension comes with revised ground rules to make the agreement more effective and transparent.
The SoO agreement, which was first signed on August 1, 2005, was later formalized as a tripartite deal on August 22, 2008. It has been extended from time to time, with the last extension expiring on February 29, 2024. Following the outbreak of violence and unrest in Manipur since May 3, 2023, all parties agreed to review and strengthen the ground rules before renewing the pact.
Under the revised agreement, KNO, UPF, and their constituent groups have committed to completely give up violence and abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land, and the territorial integrity of Manipur. The deal also paves the way for continued political dialogue between the parties for a long-term settlement within a set time frame.
The agreement also outlines clear principles:
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KNO and UPF groups will not associate with other armed groups inside or outside the country.
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They will not carry out offensive actions such as ambush, raids, kidnappings, or extortion against security forces, civilians, or other groups.
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In return, the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces, and State Police will not launch operations against KNO and UPF as long as they respect the agreement.
Officials said the renewal of the SoO agreement is an important step toward restoring peace and stability in Manipur, which has witnessed months of ethnic unrest.
EXTENSION OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS (SoO) AGREEMENT WITH KUKI NATIONAL ORGANISATION (KNO) AND UNITED PEOPLE’S FRONT (UPF) BASED ON REVISED AGREED GROUND RULES 2025
Preamble
Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement between Army, and constituents of KNO and UPF was in force since August 1, 2005. It was agreed between Government of India/GoI, Government of Manipur/GoM, and KNO and UPF to formalize the arrangement as tripartite SoO Agreement with effect from August 22, 2008. The Agreed Ground Rules were revised and the SoO Agreement was extended with KNO and UPF from time to time until it expired on February 29, 2024. In view of the serious law & order and security situation in Manipur since May 3, 2023, it was mutually agreed to review the implementation of the Agreed Ground Rules and revise the same in order to make it more effective and transparent.
KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall completely abjure the path of violence and abide by the Constitution of India, laws of the land, and territorial integrity of Manipur. Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement shall be followed by tripartite dialogue with KNO and UPF to pave the way for a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution of India in a time bound manner.
A list of constituents of KNO and UPF as relevant in the context of SoO is enclosed at Annexure-A. The following basic principles/ground rules were mutually agreed:–
1. Basic Principles
(i) KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall not have association either at organizational level or at individual level with any other armed group, within the country or outside.
(ii) KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall not undertake any offensive operations like ambush, raid, sniping and attack leading to death/injury/damage or loss of property, kidnapping, extortion, intimidation, etc. against Security Forces, other groups and/or the public.
(iii) The Security Forces (Army/Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces and the State Police) shall not launch operations against KNO and UPF as well as their constituents as long as they abide by this Agreement.
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