Pakistan UN envoy meets UNGA President to discuss Kashmir issue

" Met Maria Fernanda Espinosa , President of UN General Assembly & briefed her in detail about the grave situation in occupied Kashmir where the continuing curfew & lockdown is exacerbating the suffering of the Kashmiri people.UN should live up to its obligations on IOK," she tweeted.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that he will raise the Kashmir issue at every international forum, including at the UN General Assembly.

This comes in the wake of the Indian government's decision to revoke Article 370 which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Khan assured the people of Kashmir that he will stand by them until the Indian government lifts up the restrictions in the hilly region.

"First, I believe, the entire nation should stand with the Kashmiri nation. I have said this that I will act as Kashmir's ambassador," he said while addresing the nation.

The Pakistan PM said he will tell the world about this and have shared the issue with heads of state that he has been in contact with.

"I will raise this issue at the UN as well," Khan said as he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly next month.

"I read in the newspapers that people are disappointed that Muslim countries are not siding with Kashmir. I want to tell you not to be disappointed; if some countries are not raising this issue because of their economic interests, they will eventually take this issue up. They will have to, with time," he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump were before the media on Monday and the latter said that the Kashmir issue had been discussed between the two leaders. He agreed that the issues between India and Pakistan are 'bilateral in nature' and as Modi said, both nations could sort them out.

"The issues of India and Pakistan are bilateral. I believe together we can sort out our issues," Modi told media with Trump sitting by his side with his body language all through clearly indicating that India got an upper hand in Kashmir diplomacy.

Highlighting that Kashmir issue was discussed between them, Trump said, "US is a good friend with both India and Pakistan."

Trump, whose offer to mediate earlier had rattled India, said the PM has informed him that the situation in Kashmir is under control.

Modi rejected any scope for a third party mediation on Kashmir saying "we don't want to trouble any third country." 

"Prime Minister really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I'm sure that they will be able to do something," Trump said.

Both the leaders visited France to attend the G7 Summit.

The Indian government scrapped the Article 370 which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and also provided special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.

Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.

The decision had further escalated tension between India and Pakistan in recent times.

Image:  Maleeha Lodhi Twitter page