Pakistan on Thursday welcomed former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s support for the statement made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Dattatreya Hosabale, in which he said the window for dialogue between India and Pakistan should always be open.
At a press conference, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said he viewed the calls for dialogue within India as a “positive development,” but added that it remained to be seen whether there was any “official reaction” to those statements.
“It is clear that the voices within India calling for dialogue are a positive development,” Andarabi said in response, according to the agency’s report. “We hope that reason will prevail in India… We will of course see if there is an official reaction to those voices in India.”
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Andarabi said that constructive partnerships and honest talks are key to ensuring peace, security and shared prosperity in the region. He was asked about Indian Army Chief General (retd) Manoj Naravane’s support for RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale’s statements.
In response to a question about reports of back-channel communications between the two sides, Andarabi declined to comment.
“As for the second track or the back channel – well, I’m not aware of that and I don’t want to comment on it. If I wanted to comment, there is no back channel. The second track or back channel, the name is self-explanatory,” he said.
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Reiterating Pakistan’s position, Andarabi said Islamabad believes that “constructive partnerships and sincere dialogue are essential to promoting peace, security and shared prosperity for all.”
He added: “We remain strongly committed to the principles of diplomacy, respect for sovereignty, and meaningful international participation as the path toward regional stability and global harmony.”
In response to another question, Andarabi said that Pakistani forces along the Line of Control remain on alert against “any misadventure, any firing, or any violation of the ceasefire.”
“We remain engaged. We remain optimistic. Injecting momentum into the peace process is primarily the prerogative of the main interlocutors. Pakistan, for its part, remains engaged,” he said.
What did MM Naravane say?
On Thursday, RSS leader Hosabale’s call for a “window for dialogue” was endorsed by former Army chief General MM Naravane.
Former Army Chief General MM Naravane said: “One thing is very clear, and we have always emphasized that: Any differences that exist between the two countries should always be resolved through discussion and dialogue. However, this does not mean that we cannot use 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.”
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His comments came days after Hosabale’s statement PTI The interview referred to the need to “enter into dialogue” with Pakistan. “…If Pakistan is like a pin prick who tries to create incidents like Pulwama etc, then we must respond appropriately according to the situation because the security and self-respect of a country and a nation must be protected and the present government must take note of that and take care of it,” Hosabale said on Tuesday.
