What happened

A discussion has emerged on whether India should resume government-level dialogue with Pakistan after years of stalled engagement. The article notes that formal talks have been absent since 2016, and that serious attacks continued in 2019 and 2025. A group of prominent citizens has issued a joint appeal to leaders in both countries, asking for dialogue.

Core arguments in the debate

One view says the long absence of dialogue is itself a reason to restart engagement. It argues that dialogue is with the state and its policy apparatus, not with one individual. Another view agrees that dialogue matters because both countries are nuclear powers, but questions whether Pakistan’s security leadership has incentives to prioritise peace without pressure on terrorist infrastructure.

The article also addresses the argument that talks cannot happen when the military dominates power. A counter-view says India has previously engaged Pakistani military leaders on issues such as water-sharing and dispute settlement, and that international diplomacy often continues even with controversial leaders. The security counterpoint says that terror attacks create a moral and political cost for any elected Indian government that continues talks after violence.

Why the issue matters

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