The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold a session in New York on August 16 to deliberate over the prevailing situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) days after India scrapped provisions that gave the valley more autonomy, Radio Pakistan reported.

According to diplomatic sources, the UNSC will discuss the Kashmir dispute under agenda item Pakistan-India question.

The request to convene the meeting on Kashmir was made by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

China also backed Pakistan’s request, asking for the UNSC to meet behind closed doors on Thursday or Friday.

This is a big success for Kashmir and Pakistan as the debate is happening after decades. Last time when Jammu and Kashmir found a reference in UNSC resolutions was in 1998 in resolution 1172 after Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. However, the mention under India Pakistan question is after decades.

India revoked the special status of IOK on August 5. Several Kashmiri leaders and former chief ministers were also placed under house arrests before the very move.

Political leaders and experts have warned of a severe backlash against the Indian move, with local resentment amplified after authorities imposed severe movement restrictions in the Kashmir Valley and severed all public telecommunications links, including mobile phones and internet.

Pakistan retaliated by suspending bilateral trade and all public transport links with India, as well as expelling New Delhi’s ambassador to Islamabad.

Prime Minister Imran Khan travelled to the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Muzaffarabad, on August 14, marking his first visit to the region since becoming the premier.

In an Independence Day speech, PM Imran warned the army was fully prepared and revealed India was planning to attack AJK to divert the global attention from the IOK which remains in lockdown since New Delhi scrapped Article 370 of its constitution.