Ajit Lal, appointed Northeast Adviser to the Union Home Ministry in February 2026, in the the new interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks. (Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/Ajit Lal)
Dimapur, September 24 (MExN): The Government of India has reportedly been appointed retired IPS officer and former Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), Ajit Lal, as the new interlocutor for the Indo-Naga political talks.
Lal, a 1974-batch retired IPS officer, was appointed Northeast Adviser to the Union Home Ministry in February 2026.
He had earlier served as Chairman of the JIC under the National Security Council Secretariat. The appointment comes amid efforts to revive the stalled Indo-Naga political dialogue.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM), in a statement issued on September 24, welcomed Lal’s appointment, describing it as a “significant and encouraging development” and saying it reflected the Centre’s renewed resolve to advance the peace process.
It further also welcomed the reported inclusion of a Union Minister, or a group of Union-level Ministers, in the negotiation framework, saying this would help “expedite the political process”.
The NSCN (IM) expressed gratitude to the Nagaland Government and the Naga people for their support to the peace process.
