Kashmir dispute in UNSC focus after decades

FM Qureshi calls it a huge diplomatic achievement for Pakistan

The United Nations Security Council will hold a session in New York on August 16 to deliberate over the prevailing situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) days after New Delhi scrapped provisions that gave the valley more autonomy.

According to diplomatic sources, the UN Security Council will discuss the Kashmir dispute under agenda item Pakistan-India question.

Pakistan had called for the meeting on Monday when Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi delivered a letter to the Security Council president from Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, which contained the request.

China also backed Pakistan’s request, asking for the assembly of the powerful body behind closed doors on Thursday or Friday.

This is a big success for Kashmir and Pakistan as the debate is happening after decades. Last time when Jammu and Kashmir found a reference in the UN Security Council was in 1998 in Resolution 1172 after Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. However, the mention under India-Pakistan question is after decades.

India revoked the special status of IOK on August 5 before sending thousands of additional troops to the disputed region. Several Kashmiri leaders and former chief ministers were also placed under house arrests before the explosive move.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has forewarned the international community against imminent ethnic cleansing in the region which Modi’s saffronised government is planning in a bid to change the region’s demography.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Qureshi said the UN Security Council session on IOK was a big success for Pakistan at diplomatic front which has landed India in utmost panic. “It is a landmark diplomatic achievement for Pakistan that the UNSC will address the Kashmir issue after five decades,” he added.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “Russia is aware of our stance. I presented Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue in detail during my phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.”

He hoped that Moscow would support Pakistan’s point of view at the Security Council. “Our job is to present our point-of-view with sincerity.”

The foreign minister said the hate-filled and racist policies of Modi were endangering peace in the South Asian region. India is perpetrating genocide of Kashmiris in a bid to change the demographic composition of the population in IOK.

The foreign minister said Pakistan was in favour of a peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute and would forcefully present and fight the case at the UN Security Council.

He said India was protesting against convening of the UN Security Council meeting. However a huge segment of Indian population realises the oppressive approach of Modi against Kashmiris in a form of genocide.

Modi has turned the occupied valley into a prison with complete communication blockade. “Muslims are looking towards the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to come forward and support the innocent people of Kashmir,” he added while urging the OIC leadership to play its part.

“I also urge the human rights organisations to take a look at the rampant rights violations taking place in IOK,” he said.

“We have never preferred war. But if someone tries to impose a war on us, then we have the right to defend ourselves,” he added. “The people in Pakistan stand with the armed forces for the Kashmir cause.”

With input from agencies