UN Security Council to discuss Kashmir issue in closed-door consultation today

New Delhi/United Nations: The United Nations Security Council will hold closed-door consultations on the Kashmir issue on Friday after China’s request, a diplomat said.

According to IANS report, the diplomat said that China’s request for the meeting was made in the letter. As the meeting would be closed-door, the proceedings would be secret, without being broadcast or accessible to reporters.

China wanted the consultations to take place on Thursday, but since the schedule was already set for the day without any meetings, it was to be taken up on Friday, the diplomat said.

Earlier, Pakistan had asked for a meeting of the UNSC on Kashmir following India's decision to scrap Articles 370 and 35A of its Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status.

Except for China, all the other four permanent members of the Council have openly backed India's position that disputes between India and Pakistan are bilateral matters.