J&K off UN list of disputes,Pak objects

“We have always firmly maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India… This a very welcome step and we hope that in same way the UN addresses our bilateral issues,” she added.

The omission of Jammu and Kashmir from a list of disputes under the observation of the UN Security Council was noticed by Pakistan in a speech made by UK’s top diplomat in an annual debate on UNSC reforms at the world body. The UK holds the presidency of UNSC this month.

The development has come as a setback to Pakistan which has been asking the world body to intervene on the issue. It has lodged a protest.

“Jammu and Kashmir dispute was not mentioned in the context of unresolved long-running situations,” said Amjad Hussain B Sial,Pakistan’s acting envoy to the UN. “We understand this was an inadvertent omission,as Jammu and Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes on agenda of the Security Council,” he added.

Speaking earlier at the General Assembly,UK envoy to the UN Mark Lyall Grant said “some long-running situations,including in the Middle East,Cyprus and Western Sahara remain unresolved,as do issues where the Council has become engaged in recent years,including Nepal and Guinea Bissau.”

“Huge challenges remain in Sudan,Somalia and the DRC,” he added.

Meanwhile,the development has left separatists in Kashmir worried. The hardline Hurriyat Conference which spearheaded the five-month protest campaign for the right to self determination under UN resolutions on Kashmir,said the omission was the result of some “misunderstanding”.

“Kashmir is a dispute duly recognised by the United Nations. There are resolutions on Kashmir in the world body. How can the UN suddenly turn around and say nothing happened?” spokesperson for the hawkish Hurriyat faction Ayaz Akber told The Indian Express.

The moderates played down the UN omission saying all countries in the world regard Kashmir as a dispute.

“US President Barack Obama on his recent visit to India said Kashmir is a long-standing dispute and even offered to play a role in its settlement if India and Pakistan specifically request the US to do so,” moderate Hurriyat leader Shahid-ul-Islam told The Indian Express.