China postpones UN Security Council discussion on Jammu and Kashmir, diplomats say

Talks on flashpoint Indian territory put back because UN peacekeepers were not ready to brief security council

China’s request was made after Pakistan sent letter voicing concerns about increasing tensions with India

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China says it will again request UN Security Council discussions on tensions between India and Pakistan over disputed Kashmir. Photo: AP

Published: 2:06pm, 18 Dec 2019Updated: 10:08pm, 18 Dec 2019

China postponed a discussion by the United Nations Security Council planned for Tuesday about the situation in the disputed Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir because the UN peacekeeping mission there was not ready to provide a brief, diplomats said.

The Himalayan region has long been a flashpoint between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan, with both claiming Kashmir in full but ruling it in part. UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1949 to observe a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the region.

On Monday, China’s UN mission requested the closed door briefing after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote to the council to express concerns about a possible further escalation of tensions.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Zhang Jun, China’s Ambassador to the UN, told the council on Tuesday that he would again request the meeting when the peacekeeping mission was ready to give a detailed briefing.

“We all know the security council has received a letter from the foreign minister of Pakistan requesting security council discussions and discussions are going on,” Zhang said.