Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Governor Satya Pal Malik has drawn a red line for both the mainstream and separatist parties in Kashmir. The governor criticised the state’s parties for reiterating Pakistan’s role in solving the Kashmir issue, The Hindu has reported.

“These [political parties] have no right to talk about India-Pakistan peace talks. It is between governments of the two nations, as being neighbours makes it obvious that talks will happen for sure. But political parties bringing up the issue of Pakistan into dialogue process was neither acceptable to us then, nor will it be now” he said.

Malik also made it clear that no talks could be possible with the separatist Hurriyat conference till they remove Pakistan from the equation. The governor was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar where he came down heavily on the Hurriyat for their pro-Pakistan approach.

Malik said that he had not met with the stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. He added, “as far as the Hurriyat is concerned, they don’t even go to the toilet without asking Pakistan. Till the time they don’t keep Pakistan separate, no talks will be held with them.”

Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP chief, reacting on the statement by governor said that her party will keep pursuing India-Pakistan dialogue while Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called Pakistan a party to the Kashmir dispute.