India Pakistan Relations: Between Dialogue and Dismemberment

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A debate on relations between India with Pakistan that is familiar has emerged a year after Operation Sindoor 1. The Operation is continuing per se implying that India will respond to a terrorist attack from Pakistan by launching cross border operations the form of which will entail strikes on the military apart from terror groups. Concomitantly, a debate over dialogue with Pakistan is doing the rounds in India, while some voices have gone to the opposite end of the spectrum talking of ‘dismemberment,’ of the Western neighbour.

Here is a review of the divergent takes-

Proponents of Dialogue

The debate was opened by top RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale on May 12 stating that people-to-people contact could break the current deadlock in India Pakistan freeze. "That should be tried more and more now," he said in an interview to PTI Videos. "This is the one hope I think, because I believe strongly that ultimately the civil society relations (will work). Because we have a cultural relation and we have been one nation," he said.

"The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected and the government of the day should take care of it. But at the same time, we need not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue," he said. Trade and commerce, issuance of visas should not stop, because "there should be a window (open) always for a dialogue", he added indicating that diplomatic relations continue for that very reason.

A day after, former army chief Gen Manoj Naravane supported RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's suggestion of people to people talks.

"Even our people should know that those staying across the border are not sworn enemies," the former army chief said. 

“Disputes should be resolved through discussion, but this does not mean we cannot use military force. India is a country that speaks the language of peace but we will not hesitate to use force if needed," Naravane added. 

Taking up the call from Mr Hosbale and General Naravane, leaders in Jammu and Kashmir which suffers the impact of not only hostilities but tensions between India and Pakistan supported the need for dialogue.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah backed RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale and former Army Chief M M Naravane on dialogue, stating, "It is a very big move that the RSS leader has said that there should be talks with Pakistan, and the ex-Army chief has also backed his statement. I am glad that somebody is now thinking that war is not an option. It is the question of dialogue, which we must always have to solve our problems," the NC president said.

In the same voice Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti commented “...a senior RSS leader recently said there should be talks with Pakistan. There should be dialogue and discussions with Pakistan, and the routes should also be reopened. But the process should begin with . Along with engaging Pakistan, the government must also hold talks with the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti told reporters in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President and MLA Central Shalteng Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra also strongly advocated dialogue between India and Pakistan, calling it essential to end bloodshed and restore lasting peace in the region.

Pakistan Reaction to Dialogue

As per a report in the Hindustan Times, Pakistan welcomed former Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane's backing remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Dattatreya Hosabale, who said the window for dialogue between India and Pakistan should always be open.

Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that he saw the calls for dialogue within India as a “positive development” but added that it remains to be seen if there is any “official reaction” to those remarks.

"The voices within India calling for dialogue are obviously a positive development. We hope that sanity will prevail in India.... We, of course, will see if there is an official reaction to those voices in India," Andrabi said as per the HT.

Dismemberment

Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on the other hand sent out a stern message to Pakistan, saying Islamabad has to “decide if they want to be a part of geography and history or not,” virtually hinting at dismemberment.

 At an event in Delhi, General Dwivedi was asked about how the Indian Army will respond if the circumstances that led to Operation Sindoor last year come up again. "If you have heard me earlier, what I have said... that Pakistan, if it continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to decide whether they want to be part of geography or history or not," the Chief of Army Staff said as per the Hindustan Times.

Earlier during the week, a former Western army commander Lt Gen Manoj Katiyar who was in the chair during Operation Sindoor said Pakistan’s military establishment continues to view proxy warfare as a low-cost strategic tool against India and is unlikely to abandon terrorism as an instrument of state policy despite repeated setbacks. He was speaking at an event “Op Sindoor 2.0: Lessons, Strategy and Prognosis”, organised by Lucknow-based strategic think tank STRIVE India with the support of HQ Central Command

Pakistan Reaction

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif retaliated on May 18 stating that India would be “relegated to history” and its geography “changed” if it attempted any future misadventure against Pakistan. “If India attempts any misadventure against Pakistan, it would be relegated to history and its geography would be changed,” the defence minister asserted in a TV interview possibly staged to respond to the Indian Army Chief’s remarks.

Earlier in an Arab News report highlighted the response of Pakistan’s military media agency, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) to the statement of the Indian Army Chief threatening “mutual and comprehensive geographic obliteration”.

This was not unexpected given the jingoistic tone and temper of the agency residing in the hubris of complete control of the media space in Pakistan.

What’s Next

Clearly there is a division of opinion in the public debate in India for now with those favouring dialogue creating a buzz which has obviously been welcomed in Pakistan.

On the other hand, it is apparent that Indian higher commanders are not in favour of a dialogue and have even going on to, ‘dismemberment.’

Finally, the government will decide the way ahead, but a caution is warranted as whenever there is a buzz of dialogue with some in Pakistan also taking up the same the powerful naysayers in Rawalpindi will have their own take which may manifest into a terrorist attack to set the clock back.

The Indian Army post Pahalgam terrorist attack has undertaken anticipatory operations in tandem with the J & K Police seeking encounters and search and destroy dominating the counter terror spectrum. Regardless of the buzz of talks these need to continue.