India's Home Minister Announces Potential AFSPA Withdrawal from Northeast by Next Year
Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will likely be withdrawn from most of India's Northeast region by next year, with only one or two states retaining it. Shah made the statement while witnessing the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Centre, Assam, and Nagaland for oil and mineral exploration in a disputed border area. The announcement reflects the government's claim of improved security conditions in the region, with violent incidents reportedly down 80% since 2019.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on June 11, 2026, that AFSPA will be withdrawn from the entire Northeast region except for one or two states by next year. He made the statement while witnessing the signing of a historic tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Centre, Assam, and Nagaland for joint exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas along their shared border—an agreement stalled for over three decades due to jurisdictional disputes. Shah cited significant improvements in the region's security situation, noting that violent incidents have declined by 80% and the area under AFSPA has shrunk by 80% since 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. He stated that 12 peace accords have been signed since 2019 and emphasized that the MoU represents cooperative federalism. The agreement is expected to increase extraction capacity from 1,000-1,500 barrels per day tenfold, with potential recovery exceeding ₹15,000 crore from a single field, contributing to India's energy independence.
What's missing
The sources do not specify which one or two states are expected to retain AFSPA, though they note Manipur and Nagaland are the most likely candidates. Additionally, the sources do not provide details on the timeline or conditions for the withdrawal, nor do they include perspectives from civil society organizations, human rights groups, or affected communities regarding the implications of AFSPA withdrawal or retention.
What different sources said
- The HinduCenter
Will remove AFSPA from Northeast barring one or two States next year: Shah
- Times of IndiaCenter
Amit Shah announces potential AFSPA rollback next year
- Times of IndiaCenter
Entire NE, barring one or two states, may be out of AFSPA by next year: Shah
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