UNSC meeting proved Kashmir not Indias internal matter: Maleeha Lodhi

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
UNITED NATIONS: Most members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expressed concerns over violations of fundamental human rights in
the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, during the meeting, said Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi Friday."Majority
of the UNSC member countries said they are concerned over grave situation involving the human rights violations," Lodhi told Geo News in New
York after the Security Council meeting."One important permanent member even said the human rights violations in the occupied valley should
be probed."Now, we will take stock of the situation and reevaluate our position following the Friday development, said the Pakistan
ambassador to the UN, adding the consultations will be held on the points if the next step is to be taken in New York or Geneva.Dubbing the
UNSC meeting as highly significant progress, Lodhi said misery and plight of the Kashmiri people was recognised during the meeting
"Kashmiris are not alone, their voices have been heard, their plight, their hardship, their pain, their suffering, their occupation and the
consequences of that occupation have been heard in the UNSC," she said."We want to use the diplomatic means for the resolution of the
issue," she pointed out
She talked to media right after the meeting concluded and said that the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir (IoK) was heard at the UNSC
meeting despite the fact that they were locked up and their voices not heard in their own homes and their own land
In the backdrop of revocation of article-370 by Narendra Modi-led government coupled with human crisis in the merged occupied territory, the
UNSC held a closed door consultative meeting to discuss the issue after Pakistan urged the world body to implement its own resolutions
The dispute continues to fester despite the lapse of over 70 years
The closed door meeting was called by China on Pakistan request to discuss the issue
In the UNSC meeting that was convened after 50 years, the members were briefed over the situation
Now, consultations will take place to decide how to proceed further.Lodhi told media that the meeting was called within 72 hours after
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote a letter
She also thanked China 'in also joining us in calling this meeting'.Lodhi stressed the UNSC meeting has endorsed the fact that 'this is an
internationally recognised dispute', adding today's meeting also debunked India's claim that the issue was its "internal matter".She
pointed out that the UNSC meeting reaffirmed that its resolutions on the occupied Jammu and Kashmir are still valid.She thanked all 15
countries for supporting the Kashmiri people and agreeing to hold the meeting despite efforts made to forestall the meeting
She reiterated Pakistan's commitment for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute.She said the entire world is discussing the
situation in the occupied state, adding that India committed violence against the Kashmiri people with impunity and these rights violations
were also put at table before the Security Council
"This is the first and not the last step
It will not end here
It will only end when justice is done to the IoK people," she stressed."Pakistan will always be there to stand by the Kashmiri people with
undeterred diplomatic and political support
Their voices will always be heard," she reiterated the country's resolve
Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun also talked to media prior to Lodhi's talk
He said the UNSC members are concerned about the current situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.The Pakistan request for an urgent meeting
was contained in a letter from Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi presented to Polish Ambassador Joanna
Wronecka, who is the president of the 15-member council for the month of August.Revocation of Article-370 by IndiaOn August 5, New Delhi
announced that it was revoking Article 370 of the country constitution that granted a special status and a degree of autonomy to the state
of Jammu and Kashmir, and also breaking the state up into two union territories largely controlled by the central government
Pakistan strongly condemned the move.Before the constitutional amendments, Jammu and Kashmir - the only Indian state where Muslims
constitute a majority - had special autonomy
All bills in this state passed by the central government (except for those related to defense and foreign relations) had to be backed by a
local assembly
Citizens of other Indian regions had no right to buy land in Kashmir
The state had its official flag.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source
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