United Nations: China has formally asked for ‘closed consultations’ in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to discuss India revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This move came after Pakistan, Beijing’s closest ally, wrote a letter on the issue to Poland, the Council President for the month of August, a top diplomat here said, Wednesday.
The UN diplomat told this agency that a request for such a meeting was submitted very recently, but no date has yet been scheduled for it.
“China has asked for closed consultations on the Security Council agenda item ‘India Pakistan Question’. The request was in reference to the Pakistani letter to Security Council President,” the diplomat said. He also said that Poland has to consult and take into account preferences of other Council members before deciding on time and date for the meeting.
The official added that so far no final decision on the time of the meeting had been made and Friday morning is the ‘earliest realistic option’ for discussions.
Pakistan formally called for an emergency meeting of the UNSC to discuss India revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recently said.
Qureshi has sent a formal letter to the president of the Security Council, Polish Ambassador Joanna Wronecka, through country’s Permanent Representative Maleha Lodhi to convene the meeting. Qureshi said the letter will also be shared with all members of the UNSC.
“I have requested in the letter that a special meeting of the Security Council should be called to discuss those actions of India which we consider as illegal and against the UN resolutions,” Qureshi had then said.
Qureshi had also said that China backed Pakistan on the issue and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang told him he believed ‘China will stand up for justice on the Kashmir issue’.
PTI
