India gets yet another international snub over Occupied Kashmir conflict
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NEW YORK: The US print and electronic media has given prominent coverage to reports about Friday' UN Security Council meeting on the grave situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, amid continued criticism of India''s annexation of the disputed region.
Top US newspapers continue to denounce Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's illegal action in revoking Kashmir's special autonomous status, with Saturday's Washington Post saying, "Modi has stoked Kashmir’s anger and stained India’s democracy."
The newspapers also carried reports of the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump on the situation in the occupied Kashmir.
Most reports on Friday's "closed consultations" of the 15-member Council highlighted the fact that it was the first meeting on Kashmir after a space of over 50 years, while also pointing to China's full support to Pakistan.
"Will 50 more years pass before the Council takes up again the hot topic of Kashmir?" CNN's UN Correspondent Richard Roth posed the question in his dispatch.
"As the diplomatic arm that's supposed to protect international peace and security, the Security Council should move quickly to get between the two nuclear-armed opponents if there is a significant flare up."
On Friday, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun summed up the Council discussions, saying the members countries voiced serious concerns over the situation.
"They are also concerned about the human rights situation there and also it's the general view of members that parties concerned should refrain from taking any unilateral action that might further aggravate the tension there since it's already very very dangerous situation," Zhang said.
Voice Of Kashmiri People Heard: Maleeha Lodhi
Speaking to reporters outside the Council chamber, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi said the meeting had allowed “the voice of the people of the occupied Kashmir” to be heard “in the highest diplomatic forum of the world."
She argued that “the fact that this meeting took place, is a testimony to the fact that the Kashmir issue is an international dispute."
Ambassador Lodhi said, “As far as my country is concerned, we stand ready for a peaceful settlement of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I think today’s meeting nullifies India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter ofIndia. Today, the whole world is discussing the occupied state and the situation there."
