‘India should not close doors for dialogue with Pakistan’: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Tuesday described Pakistan as a “pinprick”, but said the doors for dialogue with the neighbouring country "should not be closed."RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Hosabale is the Sangh’s number two leader after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.“If Pakistan is like a pinprick trying to create incidents like Pulwama, etc., we have to respond appropriately according to the situation because the security and self-respect of a country and nation have to be protected, and the government of the day should take note of it and address it. But at the same time, we should not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage in dialogue,” Hosabale told PTI.“That is why diplomatic relations are maintained, trade and commerce continue, and visas are being issued. These should not be stopped, because there should always be a window for dialogue,” he added.Hosabale also pointed to the shared history between the nations, arguing that people-to-people ties could help ease tensions between the two countries.“People-to-people relations can ease India-Pakistan tensions because we have cultural links and we were once one nation. I strongly believe civil society contacts will ultimately help normalise ties with Pakistan; that should be tried more now,” he stated.Hosabale also called on Pakistan's sportspersons, scientists and civil society to "step forward" for peace as its military "cannot be trusted."The remarks come days after the first anniversary of last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, which was triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. On the intervening night of May 6 and 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror locations in Pakistan and killing more than 100 terrorists.The conflict ended on May 10 after Islamabad requested a ceasefire with New Delhi, which India accepted.However, the government has maintained that Operation Sindoor has only been “paused” and can be resumed if required.