Secretary general of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – a right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation widely regarded as the ideological force behind the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – and a former Indian army chief have both called for a dialogue with Pakistan, drawing criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Indian National Congress (INC).
Dattatreya Hosabale, considered the second most senior leader of the RSS, told Indian news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) that India should not cut off diplomatic ties, trade or visa services with Pakistan, describing these as windows for engagement.
“India should always be ready to engage in dialogue with Pakistan. That is why diplomatic relations are maintained, trade and commerce continue, and visas are being given. So we should not stop these, because there should always be a window for dialogue,” he said.
Hosabale also pointed to past efforts at engagement, citing former Indian prime minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Lahore bus visit as an example of outreach despite strained ties.
“Everything has been tried, but more such efforts should continue. Atal ji tried to engage them in dialogue. He went to Lahore by bus, and many things have happened. Modi also invited Pakistan at the time of taking oath,” he added.
Former Indian army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane echoed the sentiment, telling media on Wednesday that people-to-people contact between the two countries carried weight.
“People-to-people connections and contacts are very important. Common people live on both sides of the border and face similar problems in daily life,” he remarked, adding that friendship between ordinary citizens of two countries helps improve relations at a broader level.
The statements come against the backdrop of deeply strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with diplomatic engagement largely halted in recent years and periodic border tensions persisting.
The two countries were also involved in an 87-hour military confrontation last year, which ended on May 10 following a US-brokered ceasefire.
