Assam-Arunachal border tensions have prompted Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to appeal for peace, harmony and restraint after a recent incident near Likabali in Lower Siang district. Khandu said the two neighbouring states share a long history of friendship and must not allow a local dispute to damage relations between their people.
The appeal came as tensions remained high after a firing incident, protests and disruptions along the border. Khandu said he had spoken with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and was also in contact with senior leaders of the Mising community.
Assam-Arunachal border tensions trigger dialogue
Khandu said discussions were underway between the Galo Welfare Society and representatives of the Mising community. Youth organisations from both sides were also holding talks, while the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments were engaging at the state level.
A meeting was scheduled in Likabali on Thursday involving civil society organisations, student and youth representatives from both states. The aim was to discuss the situation and work towards restoring peace.
Khandu stressed that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had lived together peacefully for generations. He urged residents not to let the latest dispute escalate further and called for differences to be handled through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Border dispute process to resume
The Assam-Arunachal border tensions come against the backdrop of a long-running inter-state boundary dispute. Khandu said the outstanding issues are already being examined through regional committees formed by the two states.
According to him, the committee process had slowed during the Assam Assembly elections but has resumed after the panels were reconstituted. He said remaining boundary questions would continue to be discussed through these established mechanisms.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also said substantial progress has been made in resolving the wider dispute. According to Sarma, only 52 villages remain under discussion, with both governments committed to continuing negotiations.
Assam-Arunachal border tensions affect communities
The immediate dispute has also highlighted the close social links between communities living on either side of the boundary. Khandu pointed to regular interaction between Adi-Galo and Mising communities during festivals and other social events.
He said the recent incident had created an unwanted distance between groups with longstanding social and cultural connections. Therefore, he urged people to protect those relationships while the governments work through the disputed issues.
The latest developments followed a firing incident in the border area that left people injured and triggered protests involving members of the Mising and Galo communities. Reports have also described stone-pelting and attacks involving police and security personnel.
Economic blockade adds pressure
The Assam-Arunachal border tensions have also had an economic and transport impact. A blockade was launched following the firing incident, affecting movement between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in parts of the border region.
The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) has demanded action over the incident. After talks with Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, the organisation said the government had accepted key demands, while authorities appealed for peace and urged the withdrawal of the blockade.
However, TMPK indicated that the blockade could continue if arrests were not made within the deadline it had set. This reflects the pressure on authorities to address concerns while preventing further confrontation.
Peace remains the immediate priority
The Assam-Arunachal border tensions have placed renewed focus on the need for political dialogue and community-level engagement. Both chief ministers have called for restraint, while discussions between civil society groups and officials continue.
Khandu said the government would take necessary steps to maintain peace and urged people in both states to avoid actions that could further strain relations. For now, the priority remains preventing further escalation while the two governments continue efforts to resolve the remaining boundary issues.
The chief minister’s message is that the long-term relationship between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh should not be defined by a single confrontation. Instead, continued dialogue, mutual respect and the existing mechanisms for settling disputes will be central to restoring confidence along the border.