The story so far: A tripartite agreement among the Centre and the Assam and Nagaland governments on June 11 to resume oil and gas exploration along the disputed 512-km border between the two States has elicited sharp reactions. Extremist organisations in a ceasefire agreement and traditional tribe-based organisations say New Delhi should first ensure an honourable settlement of the “Indo-Naga political issue” and resolve the boundary issue before giving shape to the agreement.

Petroleum experts believe Nagaland, estimated to have 600 million tonnes of oil and natural gas reserves, has the potential to increase India’s onshore oil production by 75%. Exploration in the State, particularly along its resource-rich boundary with Assam, was halted in the 1990s due to extremism and opposition from local organisations.