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New Delhi: France has once again blocked China’s attempt to discuss the Kashmir issue in a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting Kashmir is a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad, ThePrint has learnt.

“France has noted the request of a UNSC member to raise the issue of Kashmir once again in this body. France’s position has not changed and is very clear. The Kashmir issue must be settled bilaterally — as we have stated on several occasions and will continue to reiterate to our partners on the United Nations Security Council,” a senior French diplomatic official told ThePrint.

France is one of the P-5, or Permanent Five, countries of the UNSC — the others being the US, the UK, China and Russia.

According to another diplomatic source, Beijing had made an attempt to move the UNSC to hold a discussion on Kashmir in the ‘any other business’ (AOB) category.

It made a similar attempt last month also when the other four permanent members of the UNSC, along with some of the non-permanent members such as Germany, had rejected the move.

While members of the UN council cannot stop China from putting forth a proposal for an informal talk on Kashmir, they can choose not to discuss the matter, similar to what had happened in August, when the issue was taken up at a closed-door meeting on Beijing’s request.

The move by China comes weeks after both sides held border talks on 21 December, between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Earlier in the day, the government said it will be easing internet restrictions in Kashmir. Mobile internet services and social media sites will, however, remain blocked.

Internet service providers will offer broadband facility to hospitals, banks, government offices and all institutions dealing with essential services, the Jammu and Kashmir administration said Wednesday.

Local political leaders in the Valley, meanwhile, continue to remain under detention.

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