United Nations: Faced with strong opposition, Pakistan, current president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has dropped its plan to include the Kashmir issue in the agenda of the Council meeting.

Diplomats said during the closed-door discussion on work programme of the Council, its members strongly opposed raising the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN and president of the Council for the current month Munir Akram said on May 2 though Kashmir is the "most dangerous conflict in the world", he has not "taken advantage" of his position to include it in the agenda of the Council meeting, as "we want to act with utmost impartiality".

He told reporters that he has scheduled a public meeting on May 13 on the role of the Council in the pacific settlement of disputes. "The meeting will cover existing disputes and future disputes."

"Every time Pakistan speaks in the Council on peace and security, we speak about Kashmir and we will continue to do so in our national capacity," he said, adding "But as Council President we will act with utmost impartiality."

That would not amount to raising the Kashmir issue, as the Council does not take note of the issues mentioned in the statements. Diplomats said his statement would be aimed at domestic audience who are pressing that Pakistan raise the Kashmir issue during its presidency, unaware of the fact that consent of other members too is needed for an issue to be put on the agenda.

Akram said though relations between India and Pakistan were "obviously difficult, to put in mildly", the issues between them could be resolved only through dialogue and peaceful means and "not through threats of use of force.

He said he was "heartened" by the recent moves made by both sides to normalise the situation and hoped that those moves would be implemented and enlarged.

Akram also rejected the Indian contention that his country was indulging in cross border terrorism in Kashmir, saying his country had called for impartial verification to ascertain whether the allegations were correct or not.

PTI