The reduction of more areas under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in the northeastern region is a welcome move as it partially fulfils the wishes of the people of the region for the withdrawal of the Army from internal security duties. As ethnic and other fault lines are still exposed due to armed ethnic insurgency in many areas of the region, rushing to any conclusion that internal security threats have also reduced significantly will be erroneous. Building capacities of police forces in north-eastern States and central police forces to deal with the insurgency is critical to achieving the desired goal of complete withdrawal of the AFSPA from the entire northeastern region. With the war between Russia and Ukraine influencing geopolitics in the neighbourhood, freeing more Army troops from internal security duties for deployment in forwarding areas to protect the country's borders from any external aggression has become an urgent necessity. The clamour for AFSPA withdrawal grew louder with the massacre of 13 innocent civilians by Army troops in a botched counter-insurgency operation at Opting in Nagaland revived bitter memories of similar excess by security forces under the garb of the AFSPA. Defending the continuation of the AFSPA is just about rubbing salt in the wound. Equipping state police forces to handle counter-insurgency operations on their own and seeking the aid of the central police forces, if required, must be the priority. It is extremely important to ensure that state police forces, as well as central forces tasked to deal with the insurgency in the northeastern region, are not caught on the wrong foot due to complacency over the reduction of areas under the AFSPA. The State police forces utilizing the transition period from partial withdrawal to complete withdrawal of the AFSPA to fully equip themselves for dealing with any threat of insurgency will determine the pace of total withdrawal of the Act from the region. Lessons must be learnt from instances of rights violations under the garb of AFSPA so that these do not recur. Better coordination among state and central police forces through the use of technology intelligence sharing will be vital to thwart attempts by any new group from spearheading insurgency and proliferation of small arms. Fast-tracking the ongoing peace process with different armed groups and inking peace accords is crucial for sustaining the momentum of peace and stability in areas where such accords have already been signed and militants have laid down illegal arms and returned to the mainstream. State governments leveraging these accords and reduction of areas under the AFSPA to attract investments will shape positive mindsets for growth and development. Timely implementation of all clauses of peace accords and commitments will help build trust in the peace process and encourage more outfits to come forward to sit across the negotiation table. Resolution of inter-state boundary disputes will deny extremist elements from taking advantage of the murky situation of law-and-order enforcement in disputed areas and using these areas as launch pads for their hit and run and extortion activities. Non-resolution of Assam-Nagaland boundaries and insurgent activities along these areas keeping alive such apprehension explains the continuation of the AFSPA in parts of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. The resumption of peace talks between the Central Government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) was gripped by uncertainty following the Oting incident with the NSCN (IM) ruling out peace talks under the shadow of the AFSPA. It is hoped that partial withdrawal of the Act from Nagaland will help break the ice. Reduction of the AFPSA from 60% of Assam's areas is expected to help build a conducive atmosphere for the back-channel peace talks between the Assam Government and the Paresh Barua-led United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) to open formal peace dialogue. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issuing a fresh appeal to the ULFA(I) and other militant groups to come forward and take part in the peace process a day after the reduction of areas under the Disturbed Area Notification is a timely and positive gesture that ULFA(I) and other groups should reciprocate. Civil society groups taking advantage of the reduction of area under AFSPA should also appeal to insurgent groups to come forward for peace talks for resolution of the conflict across the negotiation table towards ending the armed conflict at the earliest. While partition reduced the northeastern region into a landlocked region, insurgency and militant violence posed a stumbling block to peace and progress in the region. With India pushing Act East Policy and Neighbourhood Policy with Northeast as a central, end to all armed conflicts will help the region unlock its potential as a major hub of global investments. The partial withdrawal of the AFSPA is expected to put the resolution of armed conflict in the northeastern region on a new trajectory, provided the states, civil society organizations and people, in general, can leverage the situation to convince all armed groups to shun the path of violence and give peace a chance.