Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have held the second regional committee meeting to resolve their decades-old boundary dispute, agreeing on a structured plan that sorts the contested villages into three categories and sets the Survey of India in motion for formal demarcation.
Who Led the Talks
The Arunachal Pradesh delegation was led by Urban Affairs Minister Balo Raja and included Doimukh MLA Nabam Vivek and Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Mamu Hage. The Assam delegation was headed by Revenue Minister Keshab Mahanta, along with Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and MP Ranjit Dutta. The disputed boundary stretches across Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh and Biswanath and Lakhimpur districts of Assam.
Three Categories of Disputed Villages
Officials said the disputed border villages have been classified into three groups to make resolution manageable. Category I comprises nine disputed villages where boundary pillars are to be installed immediately. Category II covers 22 villages with minor localised disputes, which the district administrations will resolve at their own level. Category III includes two complex villages where consensus is still to be reached.
What Both States Agreed To
To keep the peace while talks continue, both state governments agreed to maintain the status quo as per the agreed cut-off dates, prevent fresh encroachments and tree felling, and start due procedures to withdraw FIRs registered against officials from either side. The district administrations have been asked to engage the Survey of India to begin formal boundary demarcation within two months. For the two unresolved Category III villages, a roadmap will be prepared through consultations with local MLAs, district officials and residents before the next regional committee meeting, scheduled for late December 2026. The process builds on earlier confidence steps in the border belt, including the installation of official boundary pillars at Pakke Kessang and an NPP team’s recent visit to the Taraso border area seeking urgent action on the dispute.
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