Saturday, January 28 2006 18:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangkok: Crucial talks between the Indian Government and major Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) Isak Muivah (IM) for extension of the current ceasefire began here today with theextremist group insisting on Government's commitment on integration of Naga-inhabitated areas outside Nagaland.

"We have just started deliberating on various issues. As of now nothing come out of the meeting. We hope that something concrete will come out by Monday when the talks may end," informed sources told sources.

The current spell of the ceasefire between the Naga group and the government will expire on January 31.

"The talks are important and the two sides are discussing the issue of ceasefire and events related to it," a member of the NSCN(IM) said.

Another round of talks are likely to be held late tonight, they said.

The Indian delegation is represented by Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes and interlocutor for Naga talks K Padmanabhaiah while NSCN(IM) was led by its Chairman Isak Chisi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

In an interview recently, Muivah had said the Government would have to take a decision on unification of Naga inhabitated areas in this round of talks.

"Now, Government has to make a decision. Either it accepts a settlement on our proposals, or it should be prepared to take the blame for the breakdown of the talks," he had said.

Last fortnight, Fernandes had said in New Delhi that "The bone of contention is the demand for a Nagalim (Greater Nagaland)", referring to the insurgents' demand to unify the all Naga-dominated areas in the Northeast.

Fernandes, however, had said he believed the insurgent groups too did not want violence.

"It's the Naga people who will be affected by violence, which no one wants," he remarked.