AIZAWL — Mizoram and Assam will hold ministerial-level talks on Friday to address a longstanding border dispute between the two northeastern states, an official said. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the state guest house in Aizawl at 4 pm, they added. The Mizoram delegation will be led by Home Minister K. Sapdanga, while Assam’s team will be headed by Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora, officials said. This will be the first border discussion between both the states since the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, came to power in December last year. Also read: Indo-Bangla border centre in Assam’s Salmara reopens after 4 yrs Following the talks, Bora and his team will have a courtesy meeting with Lalduhoma before departing for Guwahati on Saturday. Sapdanga has expressed optimism that the talks could lead to a positive resolution of the border dispute. He noted that both states have adhered to the status quo on disputed areas since border discussions began in August 2021. Despite an agreement in February for talks between Lalduhoma and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, scheduling conflicts due to the Lok Sabha elections delayed the discussions. The border dispute...