RSS leader, former Indian army chief support continued dialogue with Pakistan

NEW DELHI: A senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and a former Indian army chief have spoken in favour of keeping communication open with Pakistan, a position that has triggered criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress.

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, regarded as the organisation’s second most senior figure, said India should continue diplomatic engagement with Pakistan in remarks to news agency PTI. "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."

The RSS, also known as the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary organisation that is widely seen as the ideological guide of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Referring to earlier attempts at outreach, Hosabale pointed to former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s efforts to engage Pakistan, including his bus journey to Lahore, as an example of dialogue continuing despite tensions between the two countries. "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."

Former Indian army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane also backed greater engagement, telling the media on Wednesday that contact between ordinary people on both sides remained important.

"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," Naravane said, adding that stronger ties between citizens of the two countries could also contribute to improving broader bilateral relations.

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained largely frozen in recent years, with formal diplomatic engagement stalled. The two neighbours have also seen border clashes and a brief 87-hour conflict last year.

Recent tensions

During the 87-hour conflict in May 2025, Pakistan shot down eight Indian fighter jets, including four French-made Rafale aircraft, one Su-30, one MiG-29, one Mirage 2000, and one expensive multi-role unmanned aerial system, in addition to dozens of drones.

The conflict between the two nuclear-armed countries ended on May 10 after a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

The report also recalled that in February 2019, India violated Pakistan’s airspace, prompting a retaliatory response by Pakistan that resulted in the downing and capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later returned to India.

The latest remarks by Hosabale and Naravane come at a time when official engagement between the two countries remains limited, even as calls from some quarters in India have emerged for maintaining channels of communication.