As Kashmir remains tense four months after India deprived the region of its autonomy, the UN Security Council meets Tuesday to consider the situation in response to China’s request for a meeting.
The Council will likely meet behind closed doors as it had done in August days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ultrationalist government changed the constitutionally guaranteed special status of the Muslim-majority territory.
“In view of the seriousness of the situation and the risk of further escalation, China would like to echo the request of Pakistan, and request a briefing of the Council … on the situation of Jammu and Kashmir,” China’s U.N. mission wrote, according to a Reuters report.
Since August 5, India has faced stinging backlash from human rights groups, United Nations and some countries for severe restrictions imposed on communications and freedom of expression and assembly in the disputed territory.
Meanwhile, Pakistan-India tensions have seen escalation.
Kashmiris have rejected New Delhi’s claim that the decision to include the territory as part of Indian Union would help its economic development and fear that the step would allow majority Hindu population to take over their state through settlements.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has called the ruling BJP’s policies on Kashmir as fascist.
