How did Pakistan fail at UNSC meeting on Kashmir despite China’s support?

Pakistan’s attempt to drag international community in the Kashmir issue has failed miserably on Friday as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) suggested bilateral route to resolve the dispute. Pakistan, in a desperate attempt after India’s move to remove provisions of Article 370 in Kashmir, had taken up the issue before the UNSC with the help of China, seeking the world body's intereferance.

However, during the closed-door meeting of the world’s highest diplomatic forum, it was suggested the issue should be resolved bilaterally. The informal meeting was held to decide whether there should be a formal meeting on the issue.

Although it was not known what was decided during the meeting, but according to reports, except China, no other member country supported Pakistan. This means it is highly unlikely that the UNSC will pass any resolution on Kashmir or call a formal meeting over the issue.

Although China did support Pakistan in arranging the informal meet, the backing was half-hearted as Beijing also said that any decision on Kashmir should be bilateral. Had China wanted, it could have used it veto and get a resolution passed on Kashmir.

However, China asked Pakistan to write to the council itself and just forwarded its request. China did this because it knew all other members of the UNSC favours India and Beijing did not want to face embarrassment of a defeat at the highest diplomatic forum.

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What India told UNSC?

India apprised the UNSC members of its stand on Kashmir that the recent move by the government was an internal matter and has no external ramifications.

"…..the recent decisions taken by the Government of India and our legislative bodies are intended to ensure that good governance is promoted, social economic development is enhanced for our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," Syed Akbaruddin, India’s permanent representative at the UNSC, told media in a briefing after the meeting.

India also told the UNSC that the restrictions in Kashmir after removal of the state’s special status were preventive in nature and will be removed gradually.

"We're committed to gradually removing all restrictions. Since the change is internal to India, have not made any difference to our external orientation. India remains committed to ensure that the situation there (J&K) remains calm and peaceful," Akbaruddin said.