The fourth session of the Peacebuilders Forum India (PBFI.4), held in Dibrugarh, Assam (10–12 February 2025), focused on assessing conflict in India’s northeastern region, especially after the prolonged violence in Manipur. Twenty‑five peacebuilders from various northeastern states and the Indian mainland participated.

Participants noted that the Manipur conflict had spillover effects across the region, including refugee influx, increased access to arms, rising ethnic tensions, and development challenges—issues that have received little media attention.

General Discussion

While communities across the Northeast were significantly affected, they lacked external understanding and clear strategies for peacebuilding. Despite violence, displacement of around 60,000 people, and widespread insecurity, several peace efforts were underway.

• The InterFaith Forum Manipur has united various religious groups to promote peace and communal harmony.
• Peacebuilders across Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya are offering shelter to refugees, while additional support is being provided by Naga workers and relief organizations within Manipur.
• A women‑led initiative from outside the region is helping women in IDP camps focus on education, family health, and addressing psycho‑social trauma.

ACTION Followup

• After declaration of President’s rule, PFI associates wrote a petition with the signature of 600 persons that reinforced the Government’s efforts to demilitarize the militias through recovery of arms, removal of illegal check-posts, and to make possible the movement of people and goods, so that normalization could begin to occur.
• Two meetings were held by peacebuilders that brought participants from both sides together in Guwahati, one on the 14^th and 15^th February and the second on the 26^th
• Thirty-five boxes of medicines were collected in Madhya Pradesh and sent to Imphal.
• The medicines were used to bring people together to discuss psycho-social problems and involve youth in sports events over the Holi Holidays in mid-March in the valley.
• IFM receiving the Maya Koene International Peace Award.
• Efforts were made to work with Kuki relief workers in Churachandpur to provide two teachers in Hindi and other subjects over summer vacation.
• Worked with peacebuilders on mainland to provide some entrepreneurial skills.
• Exploring the possibility of making a peace scarf using the patterns of the Kukis and Meteis.
• Exploring a peace camp in Guwahati for youth across the North-eastern states.