Major diplomatic victory for Pakistan as UNSC calls consultative meeting on Kashmir

On Aug 16, 2019 Last updated Oct 4, 2021

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UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold a consultative meeting on Friday to discuss the Kashmir dispute.

This marks the first time in over 50 years that the UN Security Council is holding an exclusive meeting on Kashmir in what can be described as a major diplomatic breakthrough for Pakistan.

The consultative meeting has been called on China’s request to decide whether the UNSC should hold an emergency meeting to consider the current situation in Kashmir.

If nine of the 15 members vote in favour, the council will meet again to discuss the Kashmir. If not, the council will issue a media statement, expressing its concern on the situation in the valley.

The UN body may also urge both India and Pakistan to avoid any action that can lead to an armed conflict between the two.

“We hope the Security Council discussion will be guided by the statement of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres who has voiced concern over the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” said Pakistan’s envoy in the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi.

She pointed out that the secretary general had also emphasised the need to resolve this “issue in accordance with applicable Security Council Resolutions and the Charter of the United Nations”.

The UNSC resolutions uphold the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination while the UN charter guarantees their basic human rights.

Mr Guterres also expressed concern about the human rights situation in India-held Kashmir.