Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the government wants to build an emotional bond with Kashmir and ruled out any role for a "third power" in the crisis-hit region, reported The Indian Express. The Union minister, who was in the Valley to review the law and order situation, said restoration of “peace and normalcy” was the main condition for talks with those “we [they] have to talk with” in Kashmir. He also asked security forces to refrain from using pellet guns against protestors.

Singh criticised Pakistan for its remarks on the protests and incidents of violence in the region since Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani was killed on July 8. The Union minister said, “We want to tell our neighbouring country [Pakistan] that you are yourself a victim of terrorism. You enter the Lal Masjid to eradicate terrorism. And on the other hand, you ask the youth of Kashmir to pick up guns. This should end.” He said he will look into a report put together by interlocutors after the 2010 protests in The Valley. He said the government will also consider the suggestions given by former Union minister P Chidambaram on the matter.

On the same day, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also blamed the neighbouring country for instigating the Kashmiri youth against the administration. “We have sympathy for Pakistan. But when their own children, from madrassas, take up guns, they use drones against them, hang them… they instigated our youth, saying that if you pick up guns, you will become leaders, you will become martyrs,” she said.