India, March 31 -- India's former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao has responded to criticism over her remarks on India-Pakistan ties, saying she is used to backlash but is concerned about the "erosion of civility" in public discourse. The backlash followed her recent posts on India's foreign policy and a suggestion to rethink engagement with Pakistan, which drew sharp reactions online.

Responding to the criticism, Rao said she is accustomed to criticism but raised concerns over the "erosion of civility" in public discourse. "I am no stranger to criticism and have learnt, over time, to absorb it without losing focus. That is part of public life. What is harder to accept is the steady erosion of civility in our discourse. Disagreement...