New Delhi: The Centre has initiated an exercise to allow Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah) leaders Thuingalen Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu to come to India for talks to resolve the decades-old problem in the North Eastern state, official sources said in New Delhi on November 22 night.

The talks are most likely to be held in Delhi but no final decision has yet been taken on the venue, they said.

The exercise for Centre-NSCN (I-M) parleys was initiated after government decided to lift the ban on the outfit to provide a fillip to the Naga peace process.

The decision to lift the ban was taken on November 14 at a special meeting convened by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to discuss this crucial issue, which has been a long- pending demand of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) leaders Muivah and Swu.

The meeting was attended by Advani, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, Centre's emissary for Naga peace talks K Padmanabhaiah, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande and Home Secretary N Gopalaswamy among others.

The ban, which was renewed two years back, would now be allowed to lapse on November 26, they said.

The Prime Minister has left the nitty-gritty of lifting the ban to the Home Ministry, the sources said adding the move would help in finding a solution to the Naga problem.

Padmanabhaiah, who has been holding talks with Muivah and Swu in Bangkok and Amsterdam, is expected to meet them shortly to convey the government's decision.

PTI