Former Army Chief General (retired) Manoj Mukund Naravane supported Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s remarks advocating for increased people-to-people interactions between India and Pakistan. Naravane emphasized that strengthening ties between citizens on both sides could enhance bilateral relations.
“Ordinary people on either side of the border have nothing to do with politics,” Naravane stated. He highlighted that the common challenges faced by residents—regarding food, clothing, and shelter—transcend political issues. “When there is friendship between the two peoples, there will also be friendship between the two nations,” he added, reinforcing the importance of people-to-people contact.
His comments came shortly after Hosabale expressed the need for India to maintain communication channels with Pakistan. In a statement, he acknowledged that while Pakistan may occasionally provoke incidents, it is crucial for India to remain open to dialogue. “We should always be ready to engage in dialogue,” Hosabale noted.
Furthermore, Hosabale remarked that fostering people-to-people relations may alleviate tensions between the two nations, drawing attention to their shared cultural heritage. He urged Pakistani sportspeople, scientists, and members of civil society to engage for peace, cautioning that the country’s military cannot be relied upon.
The RSS serves as the ideological foundation for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Naravane, who headed the Army from December 2019 to April 2022, was in the news in February when excerpts from his unpublished memoir concerning the India-China Ladakh crisis were cited by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
