made by the then Deve Gowda government in Delhi to hold a dialogue with the Isak- Muivah-led National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the ULFA of Assam the two most important insurgent outfits in the north-east even in 'a third country'. If the new UF government follows this up and both the Khaplang-led and the Isak- Muivah-led factions of the NSCN (which operate in Manipur also) agree to come to the negotiation table, prospects of peace will brighten in the north-east. The ULFA has already expressed its willingness to begin negotiations in a 'third country'.