SRINAGAR, May 14: Farooq Abdullah on Thursday supported recent remarks by RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale advocating continued engagement with Pakistan, asserting that meaningful dialogue remains the only practical way to address long-standing issues between the two neighbouring countries.Addressing reporters in Srinagar, the National Conference president said the statement from the senior RSS functionary reflected an important shift towards diplomacy and constructive communication at a time when regional tensions continue to dominate public discourse.The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also welcomed comments made by former Army chief M M Naravane, who reportedly endorsed Hosabale’s position on maintaining channels of communication with Pakistan.Abdullah said it was encouraging to see influential voices from different backgrounds acknowledging that military confrontation cannot offer a permanent solution to complex political disputes.According to him, sustained talks and people to people engagement remain essential for improving relations and reducing mistrust between the two countries.Earlier this week, Hosabale had stated in an interview that civil society participation and public interaction could help break the prolonged diplomatic deadlock between India and Pakistan. He also emphasised that communication avenues should remain open despite political differences.The RSS leader had further observed that Pakistan’s political and military establishment had lost India’s trust, making broader social engagement increasingly important in rebuilding confidence.Reacting to the ongoing BRICS Summit 2026 discussions in New Delhi, Abdullah expressed hope that emerging global platforms would contribute towards peace efforts in conflict-hit regions, particularly the Middle East.He also welcomed the diplomatic engagement between the United States and China, including the recent visit of US President Donald Trump to Beijing, saying major powers must work collectively to reduce international tensions.Commenting on austerity initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, Abdullah supported efforts to reduce large official convoys and unnecessary fuel consumption.He said the measures reflected the seriousness of the ongoing fuel situation and stressed that public representatives should lead by example during periods of economic and energy-related challenges.The NC leader added that reducing fuel wastage was a responsible step and hoped similar practices would be adopted more widely across administrative and political institutions.