UNSC closed-door consultations on Kashmir, no outcome expected

As the Kashmir situation comes up again at the United Nations, UNSC will hold a close door discussion on the issue on China's request. No resolution or outcome is expected from the meeting. But, it is needful for the Indian government to get other member countries onboard, writes senior journalist Smita Sharma.

Hyderabad: For the second time, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members will hold a closed-door discussion on Kashmir at China's request on Wednesday night.

The five permanent members with veto and ten non-permanent members of the Security Council will be in the room later this evening in New York when China is expected to raise the issue of the situation in Kashmir post scrapping of Article 370 and reorganisation of the former state into Union Territory. China at the behest of Pakistan will raise its request that was earlier postponed in December to discuss the political detentions, communication restrictions among the ground situation in Kashmir.

However, no resolution or outcome is expected from the meeting as it is a closed-door consultation that will be listed under ‘other business agendas’ of the Security Council, similar to what happened during in August last year soon after the Modi government announced its moves on Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile France- a veto-wielding P5 member will reiterate that Kashmir remains a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, say sources.

“France has noted the request of a UNSC member (namely China) to raise the issue of Kashmir once again in this body. France’s position has not changed and is very clear: the Kashmir issue must be settled bilaterally, as we have stated on several occasions,” said a French government source.

Urmas Reinsalu, Foreign Minister of Estonia which is a current non-permanent UNSC member, when asked about the Kashmir consultation along sidelines of the Raisina dialogue today in New Delhi, said, “It is a bilateral issue”.

Earlier the Kashmir situation was also discussed in a scheduled first telephone conversation in the New Year last Friday between PM Narendra Modi and French President Emanuel Macron. The conversation took place just a day after the guided the official tour of select foreign envoys in India including US, Norwegian and South Korean Ambassadors to the valley and Jammu.

‘In the spirit of trust and frankness that characterises their relations, the French President and the Indian Prime Minister discussed the situation in the region of Kashmir, which France continues to follow closely,’ said a formal statement released by the French Presidential Palace.

The Indian government is trying to organise a similar conducted tour for the envoys of the European Union member countries in Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir. France is expected to be a part of the delegation once dates and terms of the visit are agreed upon.

The MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) earlier denied media reports that the EU envoys refused to be a part of the delegation visit last week as they want free access to meet civilians and detained political leaders including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. MEA cited logistical issues as EU envoys wanted to travel to Srinagar as one group and so the necessity of a separate date for visit.