India's government signed a peace treaty with a key rebel group in the country's insurgency-wracked northeast.
The government's main negotiator with the rebels, RN Ravi, signed the accord in New Delhi with Thuingaleng Muivah, leader of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It is aimed at ending a rebellion that has festered in India's Nagaland and Manipur states for more than six decades.
The two officials told a news conference that the accord was "historic," but gave no specific details about it.
The rebel group was fighting for an independent homeland for the Naga tribes. It is the oldest and strongest of about 30 rebel armies operating in the northeast since India's independence in 1947.
The group entered a cease-fire in 1997 but it then took nearly 18 years to reach a formal peace deal.
Speaking on the occasion, Muivah said, "I thank God for this momentous occasion. Naga people have great respect for Mahatma Gandhi. We appreciate the statesmanship of (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee."
Praising Modi, he said, "Under PM Narendra Modi, we have come close to understand each other, and worked out a new relation between the two parties ... Nagas will forever remember you for your statesmanship."
After Muivah finished his speech, the Prime Minister described as "historic" the signing of the peace accord.
He said, "The Nagaland political issue had lingered for six decades, taking a huge toll on generations of our people."
He praised NSCN(IM) leaders Muivah and Isak Swu for showing "wisdom and courage" and for making this effort resulting in the historical agreement.
"I have the deepest admiration for the great Naga people for their extraordinary support to the peace efforts," he said.
"My relationship with the northeast has been deep. I have travelled to Nagaland on many occasions. I have been deeply impressed by the rich and diverse culture and the unique way of life of the Naga people."
The Prime Minister said, "... unfortunately, the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other."
"The Naga courage and commitment are legendary. Equally, they represent the highest levels of humanism," he added.