ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that discussion on Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting was another diplomatic success for Pakistan.

In a statement, he said the issue was debated on August 5 when India had taken unilateral illegal steps about the status of Jammu and Kashmir last year.

The minister said it had never happened before that the Kashmir issue was debated at the UN Security Council for third time in a year.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he had written a letter to the UN Security Council President informing him that the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) had fast been deteriorating, and the issue needed to be debated by the Council.

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He said he was thankful that not only the issue was included in the agenda of the UN Security Council meeting within 72 hours of his request but it was also debated at length. He said 14 out of 15 members of the Council took part in the debate.

The minister said India did its best to prevent the discussion, but it failed in it. He said Indian attempts to build an impression that Kashmir was its internal matter or bilateral issue have also failed.

The foreign minister also thanked the entire nation for expressing solidarity with the Kashmiris by taking out rallies across the country on Youm-e-Istehsal yesterday.