In a sharp exchange with Hindustan Times’ Kumkum Chadha, the Kuki-Zo leadership questions whether Manipur’s new power structure reflects reconciliation – or coercion masked as governance. When the conflict is likened to India and Pakistan, the explosive comparison underscores how deep the mistrust runs – and whether dialogue has already collapsed before it even begins. Can there be middle ground, or is Manipur heading toward an administrative split?