The only viable solution to the conflict in Manipur lies in unity and cooperation among all communities. The ongoing violence and killing will only lead to more suffering and loss. Every community stands to lose its people, and children who lose their parents will grow up with hatred and trauma. This cycle of violence will only empower those with muscle power, leading to further division and conflict.

If the fighting continues, it will force more people to join various factions, and the days of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will return to Manipur. Development work will come to a halt, and the state will suffer economically and socially. The threat of violence and lack of employment opportunities will lead to a mass exodus of local communities from their villages. People will be forced to move to other states or metro cities to earn a living.

This migration will create a vacuum in the villages, making them vulnerable to illegal immigrants. The situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh will push more people to seek refuge in India. A similar situation occurred in Uttarakhand between 2004 and 2007. The state had less than 1% Muslim population, and the hill districts had almost no Muslim presence. The lack of infrastructure and jobs, combined with harsh climate conditions, forced people to seek employment in other states and cities. Uttarakhand has the highest number of people working in the hotel industry, and you can find them in almost every city.

This migration left their ancestral lands empty, and Muslims began to identify and capture these vacant houses and lands. There were incidents where only a single elderly grandmother lived alone in a village, while all other houses were empty as people had moved to cities for work. Now, that particular village is 100% Muslim, and no one else can even enter it. A similar situation could unfold in Manipur if the current conflict continues.

The only way forward is for all communities to come together and work towards peace and development. Fighting and killing each other will only lead to more suffering and loss. Unity and cooperation are essential for the future of Manipur.