Naga rebels in India's remote northeast extended a decade-old truce indefinitely on Tuesday, linking it to progress in political negotiations in a move aimed at boosting peace in the troubled region.
The Naga insurgency, India's oldest, is aimed at creating a separate state of "Greater Nagaland" for ethnic Naga people of the region. About 20,000 people have died in the conflict since it began in 1947.
A ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah), or NSCN (I-M), and Indian security forces has held since it was enforced in 1997 with periodical extensions.
This was the first time it was extended without any time limits.
"The ceasefire has been extended indefinitely subject to the progress of the talks," V.S. Atem, a senior rebel leader, told Reuters by phone after talks with Indian officials in Nagaland.
The demand for the creation of "Greater Nagaland" from Naga-dominated areas of neighbouring states has been ruled out by India, which says other ethnic people living in adjacent provinces are not ready to part with any territory.
Security analysts say peace with the Nagas is crucial to a broader peace in the revolt-torn region.
This was the first time the peace talks were held in Nagaland. Earlier talks took place in New Delhi and abroad.
