Pakistan welcomes RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale ’s call for dialogue amid strained ties

Responding to media queries in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad hoped “sanity would prevail” and “war-mongering” would fade away to allow greater space for diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours.

“The voices within India calling for dialogue are certainly a positive development. We hope sanity will prevail, war-mongering fade away and pave the way for more such voices to come,” Andrabi said.

The remarks came days after Hosabale, in an interview to PTI, said India must respond firmly to Pakistan-backed terror activities while simultaneously keeping channels of communication open. The RSS leader had cited former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s outreach to Pakistan as an example of maintaining dialogue despite repeated provocations.

“Atal ji tried to engage them in dialogue. He went to Lahore by bus and many things have happened,” Hosabale said, while also referring to PM Narendra Modi’s outreach efforts, including inviting Pakistan to his swearing-in ceremony and attending a private family event in Lahore.

At the same time, Hosabale asserted that India must retaliate strongly against terror attacks originating from across the border. “If Pakistan is like a pinprick trying to create incidents like Pulwama etc, we have to answer appropriately according to the situation because the security and self-respect of a country and nation have to be protected,” he said.

However, he maintained that diplomatic engagement should not be entirely suspended. “We should not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage in dialogue. That is why diplomatic relations are maintained, trade and commerce continue, and visas are being given,” Hosabale added.

Notably, Hosabale’s comments have triggered political and strategic discussions on whether New Delhi could eventually reopen limited diplomatic engagement with Islamabad despite continued concerns over terrorism emanating from the Pakistani side.

Terrorism emanating from territories under Pakistan's control remains a core concern in bilateral relations. India has consistently stressed the need for Pakistan to take credible, irreversible and verifiable action to end cross border terrorism against India and fulfill its assurances, given to India at the highest level in January 2004 and reiterated several times, that territory under its control would not be allowed to be used for terrorism against India in any manner.