ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday said that Pakistan welcomes the third meeting of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the situation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir upon completion of one year of India's illegal steps on August 5, 2019.
The Council held a third informal close door meeting on Wednesday in New York at Pakistan's request and supported by China.
"Today, as the world witnesses one year of India's illegal occupation of Kashmir, Pakistan welcomes meeting held in the UN Security Council. This is a mark of solidarity of international community & Council members with people of IIOJK, subjected to a savage military siege," Qureshi said.
He said that the Wednesday meeting of the UN Security Council is a part of a series of steps that the government has taken, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, to address the fast deteriorating security, economic and social condition of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the aftermath of the Indian unilateral, and illegal actions of 5 August 2019.
He said that at Pakistan's request, the UN Security Council discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir for the third time in a year.
"We are grateful to all the members of the UN Security Council, especially China for their support in organising the meeting in the Council. There is no doubt that India took desperate attempts to prevent this discussion and when this could not be prevented, then Indians have gone to the absurd length to minimize the importance and significance of the meeting," Qureshi said.
The UN Security Council convened this meeting within 72 hours of Pakistan's request, has reaffirmed the validity of its resolutions that the final disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will be made through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations, he added.
Foreign minister said that the UN Secretariat and UNMOGIP representatives also briefed the Council on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Council members, he added that the meeting confirmed that the overall security situation is tense. "Human rights concerns were expressed, particularly with regards to India's continued oppression in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as well as attempts to change its demography. The need to strengthen UNMOGIP, which is facing challenges especially due to non-cooperation by India, was also underscored," he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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