By Akanimo Sampson
Worried by the current situation in Kashmir, China at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Friday expressed “grave concerns,” saying that the situation in the state is serious and dangerous.
The Chinese diplomat at UNSC said that such unilateral practices (as were carried out by the Indian government) were “invalid.”
The Chinese envoy’s statement came after the UNSC held a closed-door meeting on the Kashmir situation after Pakistan approached it against New Delhi’s August 5 decision. India had on August 5 scrapped the provisions under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference, China also said that India has “violated the bilateral agreement to keep peace in the border areas” by the constitutional amendment. “The situation is already very tense and dangerous right now there [in Kashmir]. India has violated bilateral agreement to keep peace in the border areas. It is obvious the constitutional amendment by India has changed the status quo by India,” the Chinese envoy said.
Urging India to refrain from any “unilateral action” on the Kashmir issue to avoid tensions, the Chinese envoy said that “such unilateral practice is not valid”. “The Security General made a statement to refrain from any unilateral step which is dangerous. The issue should be resolved in accordance with the UN charter,” he said.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi welcomed the meeting at the UNSC on the issue of Kashmir and said the country was “grateful to China for calling this meeting”. Maleeha Lodhi also said that the “voice of Kashmiri people was heard
“The voice of the Kashmiri people has been heard today. They are not alone, their voices have been heard. This is an international dispute. We are grateful for the 15 members of UNSC. We are ready for a peaceful settlement of J&K. It nullifies that J&K is an internal matter of India. The Chinese ambassador emphasised on Human Rights situations. This is not the first and last step,” she said.
After India revoked J&K’s special status on August 5 and announced the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, Pakistan announced that it will approach the UN Security Council against New Delhi’s decision, saying it was “illegal and against the UN resolutions.”
Pakistan requested a closed-door meeting move despite the Indian government conveying that its move to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter. India had also advised Pakistan to “accept the reality”.
