ISLAMABAD: The world powers are scheduled to discuss the long-standing Kashmir dispute after 50 years at the United Nations Security Council on Friday.

The UNSC will be meeting for a consultation on Pakistan and India’s dialogue on Kashmir in the wake of the Indian government’s act of abolishing the special status of the disputed territory.

The meeting, convened on Pakistan and China’s request, is expected to take place at 1900 hours Pakistan Standard Time. Since it would be a closed door meeting so media persons would not be allowed to attend it.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had written a letter to the President of the UN Security Council seeking a meeting of the highest world body after India ended the special status of occupied Kashmir. China supported Pakistan’s request for holding the meeting.

The 15-member body will hold consultations on the issue under Pakistan-India agenda item to decide how to proceed further.

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Political department will brief the Council on the situation in the occupied Kashmir. The letter written by the foreign minister to the President of the UN Security Council will also be reviewed.

The UN Security Council is holding an exclusive meeting on Kashmir after 50 years. Pakistan and India will not attend the meeting for not being members of the Security Council.

Besides, five permanent UN Security Council members; the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia; the Security Council consists of ten other non-permanent members.

The ten non-permanent members, who are elected for a two-year term by the UN General Assembly, are Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and South Africa.