Dimapur, Feb 24: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said lot of work has been done for the Naga peace talks and the next five years will be very important towards achieving the solution.

Sarma, who is also the NEDA convenor, has held a discussion with the Naga groups for bringing solution to the decades-old issue.

Addressing a poll rally in Nagaland, Sarma said, “Considerable time and energy that has been spent for bringing a solution for the Naga Political problem and we have covered a lot of ground, the next five years will be very important towards achieving that objective.”

“We want to have a solution which will respect the uniqueness of Nagas and their history and also recognize a strong friendship between the Nagas and people living in the rest of India,” Sarma asserted.

He further said, “We should believe that we can together develop the North East region and alleviate poverty from the region, develop road infrastructure, airways and highways.”

The Centre has been holding separate negotiations with NSCN-IM since 1997 and the Working Committee of Naga National Political Group (NNPG), comprising at least seven groups.

The Narendra Modi government inked a Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM in 2015 and Agreed Position with NNPGs in 2017.

While releasing the BJP manifesto for the Nagaland election on February 14, party president J P Nadda asserted that the solution to the Naga political issue is in the final stage as the Narendra Modi government is tirelessly working on it. However, the manifesto has no mention of it.