Guwahati: Announcing that the ongoing talks with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation of Asom (ULFA) is at a “very advanced stage”, sources close to talks interlocutor AB Mathur informed EastMojo that the Centre is hopeful of bringing self-styled commander-in-chief of the outfit Paresh Baruah to negotiating table to bring an end to the decade-long insurgency struggle.

“As far as the ongoing talks with ULFA (pro-talk) faction is concerned, they are moving ahead at a very advanced stage. To pursue Paresh Baruah, senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has already spoken about it. Paresh Baruah has already responded to it. It’s a very good sign. We want all the leaders of the ULFA to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream,” sources close to talks interlocutor AB Mathur said.

Assam minister for health and finance Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that talks with ULFA (I) will be a complex one. However, it is going on in a positive direction, he said.

Sarma also informed that talks with the pro-talks faction of the ULFA is on and is in a positive direction. The state government has also requested the leader of the anti-talk faction of the ULFA, Paresh Baruah, to join the peace process.

“We have also requested ULFA leader Paresh Baruah, who is leading the anti-talk faction, to join in the peace process,” Sarma said.

Highlighting to the recent statement made by ULFA (I) supremo Paresh Baruah in a local media channel, Sarma said that the government is looking into the media statements.

Significantly, ULFA(I) leader, Paresh Baruah, in a recent telephonic conversation with a local TV channel reiterated ‘sovereignty of Assam’ as the precondition for any talk with the government of India.

Earlier on January 27, this year following the signing of the Bodo peace accord with all the factions of the NDFB, Sarma on behalf of the Centre offered the olive branch to Paresh Baruah and his group to come to the talk table to resolve their demands politically.