The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) 

Origins

After India’s independence from the British rule, the newly independent state clashed with tribal political aspirations, predominantly in Naga areas. The Naga National Council (NNC) created in 1946 was an expression of Naga nationhood. The principal view was that the independence of Nagaland was necessary to preserve Naga identity. The Nagas declared independence in 1947, one day ahead of the Union of India. After years of failed Naga separatist talks with the Indian Authorities, violence heightened, and India sent military troops to the Naga areas late 1955 - early 1956.
In that same year, the NNC set up a “government” called the Naga Federal Government (NFG) with a military wing inside the NNC, the Naga Federal Army. Despite remaining political disagreement between NNC-NFG and the government and the resumption of the Indian army’s offensives in Nagaland in 1963, the discussion for a possible ceasefire began in 1963 reflecting a belief held by some that neither party could win a military battle. A Peace Commission was established and a cease-fire was signed in May 1964 between the Indian Government and the NNC-NFG. However, despite the ceasefire agreement, discord between the two groups persisted. Consequently, peace talks broke down in 1967 without any political agreement. In September 1972, the Indian government unilaterally terminated the ceasefire and banned the NNC, following an assassination attempt on Nagaland’s Chief Minister. As a result, the Naga movement turned to underground guerrilla activities.
In the late 60’s, the Naga Federal Army suffered numerous losses, faced new internal divisions and lost its sanctuary in East Pakistan after the independence of the Bangladesh. Such military pressure and internal weakness led the NNC-NFG, under the mediation of the Naga Peace Council, to agree to the “Shillong Accord” in 1975, which implied laying down arms and unconditionally recognizing Indian sovereignty over the Naga territories. The Shillong Accord was met with considerable controversy as many within the Naga movement viewed those who had signed the accord as traitors. This ushered in a deep divide within the movement, culminating in January 1980 with the formation on Burmese soil of a new underground organization called the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). This movement was created by Thuingaleng Muivah (who had been the NNC’s General Secretary up to that point), Isak Chisi Swu (Foreign Secretary in the NFG at the time) and S.S. Khaplang (President of the Federal Government since 1978).
However, the NSCN did not remain unified and increasing disunity within the group resulted in a further divide in 1988 into two factions: the NSCN-Khaplang (“NSCN-K”) and NSCN-Isak/Muivah (“NSCN-IM”). The NSCN-IM and NSCN-K split was based on tribal lines: the Thangkul-Sema group led by Muivah-Swu and the NSCN-K was led by the Hemi Naga-Konyak group under Khaplang. The split became irreparable when the NSCN-K launched an attack on the NSCN-IM headquarters on April 30 1988, killing 100 of their members.
Besides tribal divisions, there are additional factors which resulted in this division; according to some sources, Khaplang and his followers suspected that Muivah and Swu had planned to initiate peace talks with the Indian government, which they opposed. The Nagaland International Support Center (NISC) argues that the commander of the Kachin Army encouraged Khaplang to take over the NSCN and provided him and his followers with arms to attack the NSCN Council Headquarters on 30 April. The two factions are still rivals today.

 

Location / Main area of operation

The group’s general headquarters are located in Eastern Nagaland in Sagaing Division in Myanmar. Furthermore, according to the NSCN-K’s leadership, the group had at least 50 camps in Burma/Myanmar in at the beginning of 2006.  However, the Burmese military intensified their strikes against the groups, as they launched an attack in March 2006, destroying several of the bases. Reportedly this was followed by more attacks in January 2007. A source quoted a top functionary of the NSCN-K at that time who acknowledged that the damage inflicted was “severe,” forcing the group members to seek shelter elsewhere. Some rumours indicated that as a consequence, NSCN-K chief Khaplang had fled to Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh or had ventured deep into eastern Burma/Myanmar to avoid the army.
In India, the group has a strong presence in Nagaland in the districts of Mon, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Longleng, and Wokha. A smaller presence of the group can also be found in Dimapur, Kohima (Nagaland) and in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, the North districts of Manipur and South Assam. The group is active in the eastern parts of Nagaland, in the Tirap and Changlang districts of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and also in the northern part of Manipur and in south Assam where it operates with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF). 

 

Objectives

The goal of the group is to establish an independent, sovereign Nagaland, which would be ruled by the principles of a Christian Socialist Republic. They want to proceed step by step, first by obtaining a sovereign independent Naga country. Secondly, they stress the importance of integrating the Nagas who live in Burma/Myanmar into the Naga state. Kato Zhimoni, general secretary of the NSCN-K and prime minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland has stated that no solution is going to be found within the Indian Constitution. Moreover, he said that the Nagas cannot rest until also the Nagas in Burma/Myanmar and their land “are freed from Myanmarese occupation and integrated with other Naga and the areas inhibited by them in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and the present state of Nagaland as one sovereign nation.”
The NSCN-K has been labelled as the more radical strand of the NSCN, as it has “unconditionally opposed” all talks and has demonstrated a willingness to continue its fight against the Indian army and Burmese armies.

 

Number of Members

The sources estimating the number of cadres in the NSCN-K vary widely, as a range is given between 1,200 and 5,000.  

Type : Transnational

The NSCN-K is transnational group operating in Northeast India and Burma/Myanmar, since its armed operations have been taken place in both these countries. 

Conflict Status : Active

Discussions have been underway since the 1990s between the NSCN-K and the Government. The parties announced a truce in 1998, which has been extended several times. In 2001, a ceasefire was signed, in which it was agreed that the NSCN-K would not undertake offensive operations in Nagaland while the Indian security forces would not attack the group in Nagaland. According to the terms of the agreement, the NSCN-K has to locate its cadres in designated camps, refrain from extending any form of support or assistance to other NSGAs, and would not engage in the procurement of illegal arms.
This ceasefire has been extended annually since 2001, with the most recent agreement having been concluded in April 2007. Nevertheless, the ceasefire has not been able to trigger the initiation of formal peace talks. In August 2005, the NSCN-K stated that it would not hold formal peace talks with the government until the latter resolves the issue with the NSCN-IM, as it claimed that the NSCN-IM was continuously breaking the ground rules of the ceasefire binding it. It is important to note that India has been pursuing separate peace negotiations with the two factions of the NSCN Which has led at least one observer to accuse the Indian government of trying to capitalize on the divide between the two Naga groups. In 1997, a ceasefire came into force between the NSCN-IM and the Indian government which has since been extended on a regular basis.
Despite the ceasefire between the Indian army and the NSCN-K, there have still been outbreaks of violence between the parties, both inside and outside Nagaland. Army personnel continue to launch operations, seeking out militants of the NSCN-K mainly in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Nevertheless, most of the NSCN-K’s military operations are directed at the NSCN-IM. Both groups continue to launch attacks against each others and persist in their struggle for political influence. Attacks between the two groups have reportedly taken the form of planned assassinations by the NSCN-K on members of the NSCN-IM. The NSAGs have also attacked each other’s camps and engaged in direct battles. Over 200 militants were reportedly killed in outbreaks of violence between the two groups from 2000 to 2005, mostly in the Mon district of Nagaland.
Additionally, the NSCN-K is currently engaged in a conflict with the Burma/Myanmar army. The Indian and Burma/Myanmar troops have carried out several intensive crackdowns on the NSCN-K troops forcing the group to relocate their headquarters and various camps.

 

Structure of the organization

 The group has both military and civil wings. The civil wings are distributed throughout the different regions based in the tribal areas. Each region is subsumed under further branches which contain various villages. A village administrator, a “Ranapeyu,” is assigned to a village and regions are placed under charge of an area administrator, a “Rajapeyu.”
The military wing is likewise divided into battalions and mobile groups. The battalions are spread throughout specific areas and execute attacks against the Indian security forces. The NSCN-K also has a women’s wing, which allegedly performs different tasks, including warding off attacks of the Burmese army.
In addition to the military and the civil wings, the NSCN-K has a “government-in-exile” called the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland, NSCN-K. The government’s General Headquarters are situated in Eastern Nagaland (Burma/Myanmar). Regarding the chain of command, a Self Style Battalion Commander controls a battalion within a specific region and consults regularly with the Regional Chairman or the central leadership for directives.

 

Leadership

The NSCN-K was formed by the Konyak tribes, under the leadership of Khole Konyak and S. S. Khaplang. The latter is the chairman of the organization and operates mainly out of the NSCN-K base in Burma/Myanmar.
Khole Konyak is the military chief-in-command and operates out of Burma/Myanmar. N. Kitovi Zhimomi is the general secretary and “Prime Minister” of the Government of People’s Republic of Nagaland. Kughalu Mulatonu is the Finance Minister. Akaho Asumi is the publicity secretary. The chief representative and chairman of the ceasefire monitoring cell is C. Singson. According to the Eastern Command website, all significant decisions are taken by the chairman (Khaplang), the general secretary (Zhimomi), and the chief-in-command (General Konyak).

 

External aid/Third party involvement

India has repeatedly appealed to the Burmese regime to take measures to “contain” and “eliminate” the Indian insurgents operating from its territory. Talks ensued between India and Burma/Myanmar in 2006, where it was agreed that there would be efforts made to crack down on the insurgents. The two countries also discussed the establishment of a mechanism to bolster bilateral cooperation on security-related issues. The collaboration resulted in joint Indo-Burma/Myanmar attacks in 1995 on various insurgent camps, such as those belonging to the NSCN-K. The Burmese government also carried out attacks in 2006 and 2007.
Reportedly there are also NSCN-K camps located in Bhutan and Bangladesh. Bangladesh has denied the existence of these camps, despite the numerous reports from Delhi which have provided their alleged location. In addition, reports have indicated links between the NSCN-K and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. However, Khaplang has denied such links, stating that he refused help from the Pakistan agency after a meeting with one of its senior officials in 1996. Other sources contradict this as they cite a close collaboration between the ISI and the NSCN-K.
In terms of collaboration with other NSAGs, India has alleged that there are NSCN-K camps on the Indo-Burma/Myanmar border, through which there would be collaboration with the Burmese Kachin Independence Army.
The Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, established in 1989, was comprised of the NSCN-K, United Liberation Front of Assam, the UNLF, the United Liberation Front of Bodoland, Kuki National Front, Chin National Front, the Kangleipak Liberation Army, and the National Liberation Front of Tripura. This alliance allegedly grants safe passage to the Assamese insurgent groups along the India-Bangladesh and India-Burma/Myanmar borders. The Assamese, in turn, would provide assistance to these NSAGs in their struggles against the security forces in the northeastern States. According to reports, the NSCN-K recently tried to bolster the activities of the IBRF as members of the NSCN-K, UNLF and ULFA attended a meeting in Thailand in the summer of 2007.

 

External effects of the NSAG's armed activities

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, the India-Burma/Myanmar military strikes against the NSNC-K, the United Liberation Front of Assam and the UNLF have resulted in the displacement and exodus of thousands of villagers caught in the crossfire.  
Additionally, the breakout of conflict between the two Naga factions has resulted in the displacement of populations.  For example, interfactional violence in 2001 allegedly left over 45 people dead and 4,500 displaced from the affected villages.  In addition, the fighting between the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K has had spill-over effects into Burma/Myanmar,  where several of the Meitie and Kuki groups have taken refuge in the Chin Hills. Moreover, the factional fighting reportedly resulted in the fleeing of over 500 businessman and government officials in September 1999.

 

Funding

Allegedly, NSCN-K collects revenue through the sale of narcotics, cooperating closely with the UNLF and the Kachin Independent Army. It also reportedly collects revenues through taxation, extortion and abductions. In addition, the NSAG is also alleged to provide training to the UNLF in Burma/Myanmar in exchange for money.  

Relationship with the international community

There is limited information pertaining to the relationship of the NSCN-K with the international community and the group does not appear on existing terrorist lists.

The NSCN-IM is more visible on the international scene then the NSCN-K. The former is in particular a member of the Unrepresented Nations of the People Organization (UNPO), an NGO based in the Hague. The NSCN-K has asked the UNPO to “stop supporting” the NSCN-IM.

 

Books

• Narahari, N.S. (2002), Security Threat to North-East India: The Socio-Ethnic Tensions (New Delhi: Manas). 

Articles and Chapters

• Egreteau, Renaud. “Instability at the Gate: India’s Northeast and its External Connections”, Occasional Paper, No. 16, 2006 France: French Research Institute in India. Available at link
• Harbom, Lotta. Högbladh, Stina. Wallensteen, Peter. “Armed Conflict and Peace Agreements”. Journal of Peace Research. 2006, Vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 617-631.
• Kotwal, Dinesh. The Naga Insurgency. Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis. July 2000, Vol. XXIV. No. 4., available at, http://www.ciaonet.org/olj/sa/sa_jul00kod01.html
• Maxwell, Neville. “India, the Nagas and the Northeast”, London: Minority Rights Group, Report n°17, 1980.
• “Nagaland Still Fighting After All These Years”, 1994 Fourth World Bulletin. April, Agis Communications Ltd. 1996. link
• Routray, Bibhu Prasad. “More Setbacks for ULFA”, Ocnus. Net, November 19 2007, available at,
  link
• Singh, Armajeet. “Nagaland, the Public Mockery of Peace”. Web edition, South Asia Intelligence Review, Volume 4, No. 50, June 26 2006, available at,
  link

 

Reports and resolutions of intergovernmental organizations

• ALTSEAN. A Failing Grade: Burma’s Drug Eradication Efforts. Bangkok, November 2004, available at, http://www.altsean.org/Docs/PDF%20Format/Special%20Reports/Failing%20Grade.pdf
• South Asia Forum for Human Rights, We Do more Because We Can- The Naga Women in the Peace Process., October 2004, available at,
  link

 

Governmental reports

• Eastern Command. “United National Liberation Front of Assam”, 2006, available at, http://www.eastarmy.nic.in/combating-militancy/ulfa-04.html
• Eastern Command. “Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (Kaplang)”, 2006, available at,
  link
• Eastern Command. “United National Liberation Front”, 2006, available at,
  link

 

 

Reports of think tanks and non-governmental organizations

• Asia Center for Human Rights. “India Human Rights Report 2007.” 2007, available at, link
• Asylum Law, “Nagas in India”, 2007, available at, Asylumlaw.org
• Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. Child Soldiers 1379 Report. CSC November, 2002, available at, link
• Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. Child Soldiers: CRC Briefs, October 6 2003, link
• Department of Peace and Conflict Research. “Conflict Summary: India (Nagaland)”, Uppsala University available at link, (last visited December 16, 2007)
• Global Security Organization. “Northeast/Nagaland Rebellion”, 2005, available at
  link
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. “Tens of Thousands Newly Displaced in North-
  eastern India and Central States” February 9 2006, available at,
  ://www.internaldisplacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/DB327F05EE4
  E6CA0C125710F0055386B/$file/India+-+February+2006.pdf
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. 2007. India: Large numbers of IDPs are unassisted and in need of protection. May 3 2007, available at,
  link
• International Institute for Strategic Studies, Armed Conflict Database, Non State Armed Groups, available at, 2003. “India (Nagaland)”
• International Institute for Strategic Studies “India’s Troubled Northeast”, Strategic Comments, 10:6, July 1 2004,
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, “Challenges to Democratization in Burma: Perspectives on multilateral and bilateral responses”, International IDEA, 2001, available at,
  link
• MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base, “National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang (NSCN-K)”, 2007, available at, link
• Naga International Support Center. “Violating Human Rights Khaplang
  terrorists strike” 14 November 2007, available at,
  link
• Nagaland Online. “NSCN-K game for no-mine treaty”, 2007, available at,
• Nagalim International Support Center. ‘History’, 2007 available at link
• Pakistan Security Research Unite (PSRU), “Is the Crescent Waxing Eastwards? Pakistan’s Involvement in India’s Northeast and Bangladesh”, Brief Number 14. June 24 2007, available at,
  link
• Research of the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security. “Terror Sans Frontiers: Islamic Militancy in North East India” , July 2003, available at,
  link
• South Asia Analysis Group, “Assam Army Intensifies Operation Against ULFA”, 10 May 2007, available at link
• South Asia Terrorism Portal, "Nagaland Timeline", Institute for Conflict Management, 2006, available at,
  link
• South Asia Terrorism Portal, “The Terrorist Economy in India’s Northeast Preliminary Explanations”, 2007, available at
  link
• South Asia Terrorism Portal, "Incidents Involving Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang", Institute for Conflict Management, 2007, available at,
  link

 

Press Information (in chronological order)

• Balwally, Darshan. “ULFA paying host to kids of Myanmar Militants since 1990”,Burma Library, 14 December, 1998, available at, http://www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199812/msg00232.html 6/bahroo.html
• Das, Rahul. “Barua Runs Bangla Business: Police”. The Asian Newspaper. 20 December, 2000 , available at,
  link
• “Nagaland: Imitations of Peace?”. Web edition, The Pioneer, 27 December 2000, available at, link
• “North East Naga Problem: Ceasefire with NSCN-K”. Indiamart. 30 April 2001, available at link
• “CNLA Supplying Arms to NE Ultras”, The Assam Tribune. 21 May 2001, available at, link
• “After India it will be Myanmar: NSCN-K”. The Statesman. 2 July 2001, available at, link
• “No Solution for Nagas within Constitution.” The Hindu, 5 July 2001, available at,
  link
• “Pakistan Shifts Proxy War to India's West.” Asia Times Online, 6 February 2002,
  available at, link
• “Two SNCS-K militants killed in clashes with troops of 57 Mtn. Division.” The Imphal Free Press, 28 October 2002, available at,
  link
• “India Multiple Conflicts in Northeast India” Searching for Peace in Central and South Asia, 2002 available at,
  link
• “Olive branch to Tangkhuls - on Khaplang’s trail”. The Telegraph, 5 February 2003,
  available at,
  link
• “Myanmar: Intersecting Destinies of a New Asia”. Bharat Rakshak Monitor,Volume 5(6) May, June., 2003, available at, link
• “NSCN battles Myanmar forces; Manipuri rebels flee India”. Indo-Asian News Service, 3 December 2004
• “NSCN (IM) Clashes with NSCN (K), UNLF and KNF”, Nagarealm.com, 10 December 2004, available at, link
• “Nagaland:Rebel faction extends ceasefire”, India News Online. 2 May 2005, available at,
  link
• “IM raises War Cry Against K”. Kuknalim.com. 4 March 2005, available at
  link
• “ Indian Troops Poised to Enter Myanmar”. Asia Times, 21 July 2005, available at,
  link
• « Nagaland: Insurgency and Factional Insurgence » Manipur Online, 25 July 2006, available at,
  link
• “The Terrorist Economy in India’s North-east Preliminary Explorations”, Manipur Online. 4 November 2005, available at,
  link
• “‘Capital Punishment’ Cloud on Naga Truce”. The Telegraph. 17 November 2005, . link
• “NSCN Camp Under Attack” Newsmai News Network,. 10 December 2005, available at, link
• “General strike cripples normal life”. Nagalim News. 7 January 2006, available at,
  link
• “Naga peace talks: NSCN-K seeks to rein in rival”, India News Online, 23 January 2006, available at,
  link
• “A Degenerated Insurgency”. Manipur Online, 20 April 2006, available at,
  link
• “Fresh Life in Khaplang Truce”. The Telegraph, 22 April 2006, available at,
  link
• “Ceasefire Supervisory Board Meeting Held”. Nagarealm News. 1 July 2006, available at,
  link
• “India Presses Myanmar over Insurgents”. Asia Times, 20 September 2006, available at,
  link
• “Burma’s Insurgent Flush out ‘Showbiz Mungpi’” Mizzima News., 4 October 2006, available at,
  link
• Vaknin, Sam, “The Agenda of Trade” Global Politician. 12 November, 2006, available at,
  link
• “What Ails Naga Peace Talks?”. The Telegraph, 4 December 2006, available at link
• “Myanmar to Launch Offensive on Northeast Guerrilla Bases”. India eNews, 3 October 2006, available at, link
• “NSCN (K) Reacts to News-Report”. Nagalim News, December 2006, available at,
  link
• Hussain, Wasbir. “Ethno-Nationalism and the Politics of Terror in India’s Northeast”. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 30:1, 1 April , 2007 pp. 93-110
• “Naga civil society leaders in Delhi to pressure Centre on Naga talks”. Daily India.Com, 19 July 2007, available at,
  link.
• “India cosies up to Burma to suppress Naga movement”, Burmanet News. 20 July 2007, available at, link
• “NL Clashes Between NSCN Rebels Kills 6”, Headlines India.Com, 26 October 2007, available at
  link
• “NSCN (K) kills NSCN (I-M)” The Hindu, 12 January, 2007, available at,
  Manhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/01/12/stories/2007011202841500.htm
• “Manipur Assembly Elections- No Meitei-Naga Convergence”. Tehelka, 24 February 2007, available at
  link
• “Six Killed in Gun Battle Rival NSCN Rebels”. Samachaar.in., 26 October 2007, available at,
  link
• “NSCN(K) taunts NSCN (IM), says Swu and Muivah are fooling the Nagas”. Daily India. 2 November 2007, available at,
  link
• “Organization Condemns NSCN (K)’s Violence”. Naganation, 13 November 2007, available at,
  link
• “The Eroding Base of ULFA”. Meri News, 17 November 2007, available at,
  link
• “Myanmar Army Hits Indian Rebels”. The Daily Star. 20 November 2007, available at,
  link

 

 

Interviews

Internet resources

Statements of the armed group

Agreements involving armed groups