RSS and Former Army Chief Urge India-Pakistan Dialogue Window

Dattatreya Hosabale, General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, called for maintaining a window of dialogue with Pakistan, arguing that civil society contacts must lead efforts to break the bilateral deadlock. In remarks on May 12, Hosabale said Pakistan's military and political leadership had lost India's confidence after terrorist attacks including 26/11, Pulwama, and Pahalgam, but insisted that trade, commerce, and visa issuance should continue and diplomatic relations must be preserved. He urged academicians, sportspersons, scientists, and community leaders to engage across borders, stressing the two countries share cultural ties.

Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane echoed this position on May 13, stating that ordinary citizens on both sides share similar daily concerns and that friendship between populations can improve bilateral relations. Naravane emphasized that while India speaks the language of peace, it will not hesitate to use military strength if necessary. Both leaders advocated for non-political platforms such as sporting events and cultural exchanges to ease tensions.

Peoples Democratic Party president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti welcomed Hosabale's remarks, saying they vindicate the PDP's long-standing position and that of its founder, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. Mufti stated that negotiations are the only way to resolve regional issues and establish permanent peace in Kashmir, while also supporting recent unofficial dialogues between retired Indian and Pakistani officials. She simultaneously criticized the ongoing security crackdown and use of the Public Safety Act and UAPA against locals in Kashmir.

Hosabale and Naravane reiterated their positions on May 17, with Hosabale reaffirming that India must respond appropriately to security threats while keeping dialogue channels open, and Naravane advocating for Track-II diplomacy alongside military readiness.