📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Samudra Bikash Hazarika
Derivative wor
Defence
Government Extends AFSPA to Additional Areas in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
✍️ The Siasat Daily
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 03:37 AM
👁 9
The Union government has prolonged the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to cover new regions in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, citing security concerns.
New Delhi announced on Thursday that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will be extended to cover additional districts in the northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The decision, taken under the provisions of the AFSPA extension clause, is aimed at addressing persistent insurgency and cross‑border threats that the central government says continue to affect these regions.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the extension will be in force for the next six months, after which its impact will be reviewed. Officials emphasized that the move is a temporary measure intended to empower security forces to act decisively against militant activities while minimizing civilian harm.
Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about the misuse of AFSPA, but the government maintains that the law is essential for maintaining law and order in volatile areas. The extension will apply to specific districts identified by the Ministry based on intelligence inputs, though the exact locations were not disclosed in the statement.
The announcement comes amid ongoing talks between the central government and various tribal and political leaders in the Northeast, who have been demanding greater autonomy and development. The extension of AFSPA is likely to influence these negotiations, as security considerations remain a key factor in the region's policy framework.
No immediate protests were reported following the declaration, and the security forces are expected to deploy additional personnel to the newly covered zones to ensure stability and protect civilians.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the extension will be in force for the next six months, after which its impact will be reviewed. Officials emphasized that the move is a temporary measure intended to empower security forces to act decisively against militant activities while minimizing civilian harm.
Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about the misuse of AFSPA, but the government maintains that the law is essential for maintaining law and order in volatile areas. The extension will apply to specific districts identified by the Ministry based on intelligence inputs, though the exact locations were not disclosed in the statement.
The announcement comes amid ongoing talks between the central government and various tribal and political leaders in the Northeast, who have been demanding greater autonomy and development. The extension of AFSPA is likely to influence these negotiations, as security considerations remain a key factor in the region's policy framework.
No immediate protests were reported following the declaration, and the security forces are expected to deploy additional personnel to the newly covered zones to ensure stability and protect civilians.