In a breakthrough, for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in 2023, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh held talks with the Kuki Zo Council (KZC), a key tribal body, on March 21. He stressed the need to rebuild trust between communities amid ongoing peace efforts, stating that “forgive and forget” was essential to restore normalcy in the state.During the meeting, the KZC delegation raised several key issues, including the urgent need to de-escalate tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities. It also emphasised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a political settlement is reached.The delegation further underlined the need to expedite resolution of the ongoing talks with insurgent groups that have signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region.The Chief Minister described the engagement as a positive beginning towards bridging the trust deficit and achieving lasting peace in the state.Speaking to the media on March 22, he highlighted that internally displaced persons were still unable to return to their native villages, calling the situation deeply concerning.He noted that fear continued to affect movement of people, particularly along the Imphal–Kohima highway (NH-2), where travel had resumed but remained limited due to lingering tensions.“How long can central forces keep guarding people? Until we forget and forgive what has happened, we cannot move forward,” he said.Khemchand also clarified that while there was no official buffer zone in the state, certain sensitive areas had been identified for security purposes.More than 50,000 persons were displaced and around 200 were killed in the ethnic violence that engulfed Manipur in May 2023.