New Delhi: The Central Government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in specified areas of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, according to Gazette notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday, September 26, 2026. The extension will come into effect from October 1, 2026 and will remain in force till March 31, 2027, unless withdrawn earlier after a fresh review.
The AFSPA is a law that gives special powers to the armed forces deployed in areas declared as “disturbed” under the Act, including powers to arrest without warrant, search premises and use force after due warning. The declaration of disturbed area is reviewed every six months based on inputs from state governments, intelligence agencies and security forces about the law and order situation, insurgency-related incidents, and activities of underground groups.
In Manipur, the MHA has extended the disturbed area declaration across the entire state, excluding the areas under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in five valley districts. This is the same pattern followed in the last few extensions since the ethnic violence broke out in May 2023. The 13 police stations that remain outside AFSPA are mostly in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts, which are largely in the valley areas. The hill districts, including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and others, continue to remain under AFSPA.
In Nagaland, AFSPA has been extended in nine districts – Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri. The MHA notification also said that AFSPA will remain applicable in other parts of Nagaland in the 8 police stations of 5 other districts. Nagaland has been under AFSPA for decades, although the Centre has been gradually reducing the disturbed area tag from several parts in recent years after improved security assessment. The state government has repeatedly demanded complete withdrawal of the Act.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the extension will apply in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, which border Myanmar and have seen presence of Naga insurgent groups, and also in areas falling under Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations bordering Assam. These three districts have remained under AFSPA continuously due to their proximity to Myanmar and activities of NSCN factions and other banned outfits. The MHA said the decision was taken after considering the present security situation and cross-border movement of insurgents.
The extension comes at a time when Manipur continues to remain tense after more than two years of ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities. Despite central intervention, deployment of additional central forces and ongoing peace talks under President’s Rule, sporadic incidents of firing, arson and blockades continue to be reported from fringe areas. Human rights groups and civil society organizations in the northeast have long demanded repeal of AFSPA, calling it draconian, while security agencies maintain it is necessary for effective counter-insurgency operations.
For common people, the extension means continuation of existing security deployment and legal framework for the next six months. The notification does not mean new powers but continuation of the status quo. The MHA will again review the situation in March 2027 before deciding on further extension or partial withdrawal. The matter is also politically sensitive, with several tribal bodies in Manipur arguing that AFSPA has not helped restore peace in hill areas and has instead affected civilian life.
