The paradox of the approach to the Manipur issue, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Manipur crisis has continued for over two years with over 250 deaths, thousands displaced, and deep ethnic divides between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities.

• Despite the severity, the Centre’s political and security engagement remains minimal, contrasting with its responses to other internal conflicts like Kashmir or cross-border attacks.

• The author critiques India’s national security policy as being shaped more by political optics than actual conflict resolution or long-term strategy.

Detailed Insights:

1. The Disengaged Response to a Severe Crisis:

• PM Modi’s absence from Manipur and lack of direct engagement reflects a low political prioritization.

• The Centre’s security narrative focuses more on a supposed “external threat” (Kuki militants from Myanmar) than on internal reconciliation.

2. National Security vs Political Calculation:

• India’s security policy across regimes is driven by political gains, not strategic depth.

• Instead of strengthening intelligence, police reform, and counterinsurgency capacity, emphasis is on militaristic containment or fencing.

• Author critiques use of “intelligence inputs” to justify pre-emptive actions against tribal communities.

3. Fallout of Selective Prioritization:

• Like Kashmir, the Northeast has been viewed through a geopolitical lens (vis-à-vis China, Pakistan, Myanmar).

• Fencing the Indo-Myanmar border and repealing the Free Movement Regime (FMR) are perceived as Delhi’s response to “externalise” internal conflicts.

• The dual treatment of armed groups – suppressing valley insurgents but indirectly enabling hill-based arms circulation – weakens long-term peace.

4. Internal Contradictions and Ethnic Militarisation:

• India’s handling has contributed to:

  • Ethnic cleansing of tribal populations from the Imphal Valley.

  • De facto territorial segregation between Meitei and tribal areas.

  • Normalisation of armed violence by both sides, especially as arms looted from state police remain in circulation.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• National Security Doctrine: Framework of strategies to safeguard internal and external security.

• Counterinsurgency Operations: Military strategies to neutralize insurgent threats, usually requiring community support.

• Free Movement Regime (FMR): Allows border tribes to cross without visa across India-Myanmar border up to 16 km.

Significance:

• The Manipur issue reveals the hollowness of India’s asymmetric federalism, where core-periphery states receive inadequate state response.

• A new national security vision, not limited to optics or coercion, is needed to prevent perpetual instability in frontier states.

• Without disarming insurgent groups and initiating inclusive political dialogue, long-term peace will remain elusive.

Mains Mock Question:

Critically examine the Indian state’s approach to managing the crisis in Manipur. In what ways does it reflect the broader paradoxes of India's national security strategy in the Northeast?