Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik has ruled out talks with the Hurriyat Conference until they leave Pakistan out of the process. "The Hurriyat don't even go to the toilet without seeking permission from Pakistan. Unless they keep Pakistan out, there will be no talks with Hurriyat," Malik said.

However, he added that he will try to create a conducive atmosphere for talks. "Talks are the government's job. My job is to create an atmosphere conducive for talks," he said.

Malik's statement comes two days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will talk to anybody in Jammu and Kashmir who desires to have a dialogue to try and the impasse. "I have been saying, whoever wants to talk, we are ready. I don't want to comment on what steps are being taken in this regard, but I will say that the government will not shy away from talks with anybody," he had said on Tuesday, after winding up a one-day visit to Kashmir.

Rajnath also made it clear that terror and talks can never go together. "Terror and dialogue can never go together. India has tried hard. Our prime minister broke all protocol and met their prime minister and his family members. It was because they are our neighbours and we want to have neighbourly relations with them. But there are no positive signs from their side," Rajnath had said.

However, Malik said there is a decrease in stone pelting and violence, which is because of the people's attitudes. "There is a decrease in violence, recruitment of youth into terrorist ranks and stone pelting. It's not because of me; it's because the attitude of the people has changed," he said.