Saturday, September 23 2006 12:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre yesterday (Sept 22, 2006) conveyed to ULFA-nominated Peoples Consultative Group that it would not be possible for it to further extend the suspension of security forces' operations against the insurgent group in Assam unless it receives a written commitment on holding direct talks.

"The tough government stand was conveyed by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan to Assamese author and mediator in ULFA talks Indira Goswami here, "sources said.

However, the sources said, Narayanan told Goswami that the Centre would wait for some more days before relaunching Army operations against the banned group.

The Centre's stand comes close on the heels of two rounds of discussions among different government agencies where representatives of the Army are believed to have opposed further extension of the one-and-half month old ceasefire in the wake of reports that ULFA has been using the lull to stregthen the organisation and extort money.

The Government has been insisting that ULFA gives a commitment in writing that it was ready to hold direct talks with the Centre and the top leadership of the group would participate in it.

In fact, this is one of the conditions the government wants to be fulfilled for the release of five key ULFA leaders from jail as demanded by the insurgent outfit.

The ULFA has not so far given a written commitment to the Centre on holding direct talks and has instead demanded the release of five of its top leaders.

The ceasefire, first announced on August 13 and extended four times, expired at midnight on Wednesday and Narayanan has held two meetings with Home Secretary V K Duggal, including one today, to review the situation in Assam.