Former Indian army chief Gen (retd) Manoj Naravane has backed remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Secretary General Dattatreya Hosabale calling for keeping dialogue channels open between Pakistan and India.
In an interview with Press Trust of India aired on Tuesday, Hosabale said there “should always be a window for dialogue” between Islamabad and New Delhi, while emphasising that people-to-people contact was essential for breaking the deadlock in bilateral relations.
Responding to a question on how India should deal with Pakistan, the RSS leader said that if Pakistan attempted to create incidents such as the Pulwama attack, India should respond appropriately according to the situation to safeguard the country’s security and self-respect.
More than 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were killed in the Pulwama attack in occupied Kashmir in 2019. India accused elements linked to the Pakistani state of planning the attack, allegations that Pakistan has repeatedly denied.
Hosabale added that despite tensions, communication channels should remain open. He said diplomatic relations, trade and commerce, and visa issuance should continue, stressing that dialogue should not be completely halted.
Supporting Hosabale’s position, Naravane told PTI on Wednesday that people-to-people interaction was extremely important because ordinary citizens on both sides of the border shared similar day-to-day concerns related to livelihood and daily life.
He observed that common people generally had little involvement in politics and said improved relations between citizens of both countries could naturally contribute to better ties between the states themselves.
The former army chief further stressed the importance of public engagement through avenues such as Track-II diplomacy and sporting events, saying such interactions played a significant role in easing tensions.
Naravane said India had consistently maintained that disputes with Pakistan should be resolved through discussion and dialogue, though he clarified that this did not rule out the use of military force if necessary.
“India is a country that believes in speaking the language of peace, but if the need arises, we will not hesitate to use our strength and capabilities as well,” he said.
During the interview, Hosabale also described the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the capture of Pakistani national Ajmal Kasab for his role in the incident as a “turning point” in relations between the two countries.
He remarked that since the attacks, periods of peace had remained very limited and mutual trust between the two nations had not been fully restored despite other engagements continuing.
The RSS secretary general further claimed that Pakistan’s political and military leadership had developed an aversion towards Indian politics. He nevertheless emphasised the importance of civic society ties and cultural links, noting that both countries shared historical connections that should continue to be highlighted.
When asked whether sporting events between India and Pakistan should resume, Hosabale said such activities could continue, but claimed many initiatives were currently stalled due to what he described as Pakistan’s rigid stance.
The remarks triggered a strong reaction from India’s opposition Congress party, which mocked what it described as the RSS’s “love for Pakistan”.
In a post on X, Congress alleged that while Pakistan continued to make hostile statements against India and Indians, the RSS leadership was advocating engagement despite New Delhi’s allegations of terrorism against Islamabad, which Pakistan has consistently rejected.
Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh also reacted on X, saying Hosabale’s recent visit to the United States appeared to have influenced both him and the RSS leadership.
Ramesh further remarked that supporters of the ruling establishment and several television channels would have reacted aggressively had similar comments been made by any other political figure.