ISLAMABAD (IANS) — Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday welcomed the UN Security Council’s informal consultation on the Kashmir issue and said that addressing the “suffering of Kashmiri people” was the responsibility of the world body.
The cricketer-turned-politician said in a tweet: “I welcome the UNSC meeting to discuss the serious situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It is for the first time in over 50 yrs that the world’s highest diplomatic forum has taken up this issue.”
He said there were 11 UNSC resolutions reiterating the Kashmiris’ “right to self-determination”.
“The UNSC meeting was a reaffirmation of these resolutions. Therefore addressing the suffering of the Kashmiri people and ensuring resolution of the dispute is the responsibility of this world body,” he added.
The UNSC meeting was held on Friday after China’s insistence to hold a discussion on the current situation of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir following India’s decision to revoke its special status.
Setback to Pakistan
In a setback to Pakistan, the UNSC in its informal consultation on Kashmir acknowledged India’s measures to bring normalcy and development to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to India’s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin.
“We are gratified that the UNSC in its closed consultations appreciated these efforts, acknowledged them, and indicated that this is the direction that it would like the international community to move. We are committed to gradually removing all the restrictions,” he said.
Maleeha Lodhi satisfied with UNSC meet
Meanwhile, after the UN Security Council (UNSC) concluded its informal consultation on Kashmir, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said the voice of the Kashmiri people has been heard in the highest diplomatic forum in the world.
Following the UNSC closed-door consultation here on Friday, Lodhi claimed the people from Jammu and Kashmir may be in locked up state, but their voices were heard at the UNSC.
The UNSC meeting was held on Friday after China’s insistence to hold a discussion on the current situation of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir following India’s decision to revoke its special status.
The UNSC had earlier declined Pakistan’s request to hold a formal session on Kashmir with its participation.
Lodhi said: “We stand ready for a peaceful settlement of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. This meeting nullifies India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter. The whole world is discussing….
“The fact this meeting took place is testimony that this is internationally recognized dispute, and there was also an effort to stop this meeting… This meeting confirmed the validity of UNSC resolution on the occupied state of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The meeting was not attended by India and Pakistan, and it was only open to five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
