ULFA peace accord: history of its 44-year-long insurgency, peace talks

• The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) recently signed a historic tripartite peace deal with the Government of India and the state government of Assam.

Assam Accord and ULFA's Formation

• Assamese people have their own, unique culture and language, and a strong sense of identity.
• However, the indigenous population started to feel insecure due to economic changes and the influx of migrants, especially after Partition.
• The Assam Accord of 1985 aimed to address concerns related to foreigners in Assam, following a six-year mass movement.
• ULFA was formed in 1979 by radical thinkers seeking a sovereign Assamese nation through armed struggle against the Indian state.

Four Decades of Conflict

• ULFA's armed struggle led to kidnappings, extortion, executions, bomb blasts, and significant loss of life in Assam.
• The Indian state responded with operations, arrests, and the imposition of laws like AFSPA, declaring Assam a "disturbed area."

External Support and Global Links

• ULFA has survived with alleged support from outside India, maintaining camps in Myanmar and previously in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
• The outfit has links to other insurgent groups and Islamic terror outfits.
• It also has links to Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), which has reportedly trained ULFA insurgents.

Efforts Towards Peace

• In 2005, ULFA formed the People's Consultative Group (PCG) for talks, but the outfit later walked out, renewing violence.
• Some ULFA commanders pursued peace talks from 2008, leading to the formation of a pro-talks faction.
• The faction submitted a 12-point charter of demands in 2012, and peace talks culminated in the recent tripartite peace agreement.

Future Challenges

• The peace deal is seen as a positive step, but its success depends on the government's commitment.
• The deal raises questions about the role of the anti-talks faction, who insists on Assam's sovereignty.
• While the government sees it as a "complete solution," uncertainties remain regarding the implementation and inclusivity of the peace agreement.