NEW YORK: The US print and electronic media has given prominent coverage toreports about Friday’ UN Security Council meeting on the grave situation inIndian occupied Kashmir, amid continued criticism of India”s annexation ofthe disputed region.
Top US newspapers continue to denounce Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi’s illegal action in revoking Kashmir’s special autonomous status, withSaturday’s Washington Post saying, “Modi has stoked Kashmir’s anger andstained India’s democracy.”
The newspapers also carried reports of the telephonic conversation betweenPrime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump on the situation inthe occupied Kashmir.
Most reports on Friday’s “closed consultations” of the 15-member Councilhighlighted the fact that it was the first meeting on Kashmir after a spaceof 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 ofKashmir?” CNN’s UN Correspondent Richard Roth posed the question in hisdispatch.
“As the diplomatic arm that’s supposed to protect international peace andsecurity, the Security Council should move quickly to get between the twonuclear-armed opponents if there is a significant flare up.”
On Friday, China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun summed up the Councildiscussions, saying the members countries voiced serious concerns over thesituation.
“They are also concerned about the human rights situation there and alsoit’s the general view of members that parties concerned should refrain fromtaking any unilateral action that might further aggravate the tension theresince 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 permanentrepresentative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi said the meeting hadallowed “the voice of the people of the occupied Kashmir” to be heard “inthe highest diplomatic forum of the world.”
She argued that “the fact that this meeting took place, is a testimony tothe fact that the Kashmir issue is an international dispute.”
Ambassador Lodhi said, “As far as my country is concerned, we stand readyfor a peaceful settlement of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I thinktoday’s meeting nullifies India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is aninternal matter ofIndia. Today, the whole world is discussing the occupiedstate and the situation there.”