Pakistan to take Kashmir issue to UN with China support

Pakistan says, with the support of China, it will take the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council after India revoked the autonomy of the disputed Himalayan region.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who met his Chinese counterpart and other top officials in Beijing, said China fully supported Islamabad in approaching the council to condemn India’s unilateral action in Kashmir.

"I shared with China that we intend on taking this matter to the United Nations Security Council. I want to tell the nation that they have assured us of their complete support," Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad after returning from China.

"China has directed its representative in New York to keep close liaison with Pakistani diplomats on the issue," he said. "China has clear position that India has taken unilateral step in Jammu and Kashmir which are illegal and against the norms of international law.”

The Pakistani foreign minister also said he planned to approach Indonesia and Poland, both non-permanent members of the 15-strong Security Council, for their support.

Qureshi said the Pakistani government had no plans to resort to "military options" but reserved the right to defend its motherland “in the event of any misadventure."

The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked on Monday Article 370 of India's constitution

It guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority Kashmir region, including the right to its own constitution and autonomy to make laws on all matters, except defense, communications and foreign affairs.

PressTV-India strips Kashmir of special autonomous status

The Indian government has scrapped the special autonomy status for Kashmir after imposing lockdown on the disputed region.

India dispatched thousands of additional troops to the disputed Himalayan region in the wake of the move, declaring a strict curfew, shutting down telecommunications and internet, and arresting political leaders as well as pro-independence campaigners.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has censured India's "illegal" move, vowing to fight the decision, including at the UN Security Council.

Khan said the move was in breach of international law, adding that he feared ethnic cleansing by India.

PressTV-Pakistan downgrades ties with India over Kashmir

Pakistan says it will "downgrade" diplomatic relations and suspend bilateral trade with arch-rival India.

Islamabad said it would partially close its airspace to Indian flights until September 5 and the Pakistani government also banned the screening of Indian films in the country's cinemas.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them across the frontier. Pakistan strongly rejects the accusation.

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