New Delhi: The Centre's move to resume dialogues with Pakistan hasn't gone well with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which feels that PM Modi is "spending too much capital" on bilateral talks that would not yield anything.
The BJP's ideological parent is clearly not in favour of pursuing talks with Pakistan, particularly after Monday's terror attack in Gurdaspur where preliminary investigations have suggested that the gunmen came from across the border.
Top government sources said that the RSS wants New Delhi to take an aggressive retaliatory approach and bring down terrorist training camps allegedly run by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Caught between pressure from the RSS and international expectations, the government has decided to proceed with the National Security Advisor-level talks with Pakistan, but will keep its options to strike back open, they said.
"It will be more like a carrot and stick approach," said a senior official in the security establishment. "The talks have to proceed. There has to be at least one round since PM Modi and Nawaz Sharif agreed at Ufa. Subsequent dialogue will depend on the outcome of this round of talks and also Pak's attitude," the official said.
He added, following the Punjab attack, if there is any sign of trouble from Pakistan side, the NSA-level talks could be called off. Also, India will keep its options open, and choose the place and intensity of a retaliatory strike, the person said. Sources in the government admitted to pressure from within the Sangh, but said they were certain the RSS will go along with the government's judgment, Times of India in a report said.
"They have conveyed their views to the government time and again. The RSS has not been happy with the way Modi sarkar has been dealing with Pakistan right from the beginning, but they are allowing it space to work out the best possible approach," a senior BJP leader said.
