Imphal, December 24: The visit of leaders of major Naga insurgent group NSCN (I-M), who were expected here this weekend for crucial peace talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been postponed by about ten days because of logistical reasons, official sources said today.

NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah are expected towards the end of the first week of January, official sources told PTI.

Asked as what were the logistical reasons, the sources said that among them were availability of the top Indian leaders for the talks besides Swu and Muivah getting then travel documents and air tickets.

They said the two Naga leaders, who would be coming here from Europe, would be given Indian travel documents.

This would be their first visit to India in the last 30 years for negotiations to resolve the decades-old NAGA insurgency problem.

While the NSCN-IM General Secretary Muivah, who already possesses an Indian passport, is expected to arrive from the Hague, the outfit's chairman Swu and three others have been issued passports by the Indian mission in Oslo and will arrive here from the Norwegian capital, the sources said..

The crucial meeting between the Naga delegation and Vajpayee will also be attended by Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.

Even though no accord is likely to be reached at the parleys, the talks with the highest Indian leadership are expected to provide a major boost to bring peace in Nagaland affected by decades of insurgency, the sources said.

Government has already acceded to the demand of the 3000 strong insurgent outfit by allowing the ban on it to lapse beyond November 26 and withdrawing cases against Muivah for an alleged plot to assassinate Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir.

Since 1997 Centre-NSCN(IM) ceasefire accord, Swu and Muivah have been holding peace negotiations with centre's interlocutor K Pamanabhaiah and successive intelligence bureau chiefs including present director KP Singh in third countries like the Netherlands and Thailand.

The Assam Rifles has been successful in minimizing the activities of the NSCN(IM), though the outfit is still recruiting cadres and carrying out extortion nearly a month after the ban on it was lifted, according to a senior official.

NSCN(IM) cadres are sticking to ground rules of the ceasefire, but are carrying on recruitment drives and extortion in Ukhrul district, the operational area of the Assam Rifles, AR Commander 10 Sector Brig V Suresh Nair told reporters here yesterday.

The outfit is also operating with the militant Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), he said, adding that the killing of three police constables in an ambush on December eight near new haven area in the district was either the handiwork of the KLA or KRA, Bria Nair said.