A Daring Revelation from Zoramthanga's Memoir
Former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga's recently released memoir, From Guerrilla Fighter To Chief Minister, has brought to light a previously undisclosed and audacious plot by the Mizo National Front (MNF) during its insurgency period. The book details a contingency plan to blow up the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, a drastic measure intended to safeguard MNF President Laldenga amidst delicate peace negotiations with the Indian government.
The MNF's Path to Insurgency and External Support
The Mizo National Front, initially an underground outfit, spearheaded a nearly two-decade-long insurgency in Mizoram, triggered by its opposition to the region's integration into India and its subsequent declaration of independence in March 1966. Facing escalating tensions with New Delhi, the MNF sought international backing, first from Pakistan and later from China. Both nations provided crucial arms, training, and financial aid to the insurgent group.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) played a significant role, not only supplying weapons but also sheltering MNF President Laldenga in Islamabad for four years. Zoramthanga, then Laldenga's secretary and later a three-time Chief Minister of Mizoram, was privy to these operations and recounted them in his memoir.
Chinese Assistance and Shifting Bases
The memoir also details a September 1970 visit to Peking (now Beijing) where Chinese officials offered substantial military hardware, including AK-47 rifles, rocket launchers, and ammunition for 3,000 fighters. Following the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, which made anti-India operations from East Pakistan untenable, the MNF shifted its primary base to Islamabad, where Laldenga and Zoramthanga met with President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1972.
The Perilous Path to Peace Talks
Despite the external support, the MNF's ultimate objective, according to Zoramthanga, was a peaceful resolution with India. Secret channels for dialogue were opened through India's embassy in Kabul, leading to subsequent talks in Geneva in 1975. These discussions highlighted the necessity for Laldenga to consult with underground MNF leaders in India to formulate concrete proposals for a peace agreement.
Fear of ISI Intervention
The return journey to Islamabad presented a grave risk. Zoramthanga feared that if the ISI discovered Laldenga's engagement in peace talks with India, they would intervene, potentially placing Laldenga under house arrest and jeopardizing all progress. Pakistan had explicitly stated its unwillingness to be involved in any peaceful settlement with India.
The Kathmandu Embassy Plot
In anticipation of Laldenga's potential arrest, Zoramthanga devised a drastic contingency. The plan involved him remaining in Europe while Laldenga returned to Pakistan. If Laldenga were detained, Zoramthanga would enter India, gather five or six trusted MNF men, and proceed to Kathmandu. There, they would storm the Pakistan Embassy, seize its staff at gunpoint, and issue an ultimatum to the Pakistani government:
"The Mizo people want peace with India; the underground MNF leaders also want peace; and the Central government also wants peace. But because the Pakistan government has incarcerated Mr Laldenga by force, the peace agreement cannot be finalized. Now, Mr Laldenga and his family are living in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. Unless the Pakistan government brings them to Delhi, we will blow up the Pakistan Embassy and all its staff by suicide bombing."
This extreme measure was intended to force Pakistan's hand and secure Laldenga's release to continue peace talks.
Averting the Crisis and the Path to Accord
Fortunately, the plan never had to be executed. Laldenga successfully slipped out of Pakistan in August 1975, first to Cologne, Germany, and then, after gaining clearance from New Delhi, flew to India with his family and Zoramthanga on January 26, 1976. While Laldenga's return marked a significant step, the road to peace remained long and arduous.
Negotiations faced numerous setbacks, including Laldenga's house arrest and imprisonment under Prime Minister Morarji Desai's government. It was only after Indira Gandhi's return to power and years of complex discussions that the historic Mizoram Peace Accord was finally signed in June 1986, bringing an end to the insurgency.