Bangkok, January 31: Hours before its expiry, the Government and Naga rebels belonging to NSCN (IM) faction today agreed on extending the 8-year-old ceasefire in Nagaland by another six months after four days of hectic negotiations.

�In view of the need to maintain the congenial atmosphere for the political negotiations to fructify, it has been mutually decided to extend the ceasefire by six months with effect from February one,� said a joint statement signed by the Government interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN (IM) chief negotiator T Muivah and issued after the talks between the two sides here.

The two sides agreed to re-activate and make effective mechanisms to address all ceasefire issues, including modification of ground rules, it said.

Recognising that there has been insufficient progress in talks, they decided to carry the political negotiations expeditiously forward taking new initiatives to resolve the Naga problem, the statement said.

The Indian side at the talks was led by Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Oscar Fernandes, aided by Padmanabhaiah, while the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) side was headed by its General Secretary Muivah.

The ceasefire, brokered in 1997 and renewed periodically, was to expire at midnight tonight.

PTI

Our Staff Reporter adds from Imphal : The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong has warmly welcomed the extension of the cease fire by yet another six months.

In a statement the student body said that the extension of the truce has eased the tension among the peace starved Naga people but expressed apprehension that this could be another ploy of the Indian Government to deceive the Nagas.

The Government of India only seems to be interested in buying time instead of giving in to the demands of the Naga people, observed TKS.