Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the UK's position is at the UN in relation to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir; and whether the Government opposes the removal of article 370 and 35A by the Indian Government within that region.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his Statement to the House on 3 September, we are deeply concerned about the situation in Kashmir. We want to see a reduction in tensions in Kashmir, respect for internationally recognised human rights and steps taken on all sides to rebuild confidence. The situation in Kashmir was discussed in the UN Security Council on 16 August and the UK continues to call for restraint and action to address current concerns, and welcome efforts to do so as soon as possible. The UK's longstanding position on Kashmir is that it is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.