On the morning of 16 August, the Security Council held consultations under the agenda item "India-Pakistan question" and listened to the briefings given by the UN Secretariat on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the work of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). After the consultations, Ambassador Zhang Jun spoke to the media on the consultations and China's position on the issue of Kashmir.

Ambassador Zhang said that the Security Council just held consultations on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Council members are deeply concerned about the current situation. They hope that the relevant parties will exercise restraint and refrain from taking unilateral actions that will escalate tensions and call on the two sides to properly resolve the issue through dialogue.

Ambassador Zhang said that the issue of Kashmir is an issue left from history between India and Pakistan. According to relevant Security Council resolutions, the status of Kashmir is undecided and it is an internationally-recognized disputed area. The Kashmir issue should be resolved properly through peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. This represents the consensus of the international community.

Ambassador Zhang said that the constitutional amendment by India has changed the status quo in Kashmir, causing tensions in the region. China is deeply concerned about the current situation and opposes any unilateral action that complicates the situation. China calls upon the relevant parties to exercise restraint, act prudently and in particular, not take actions that will aggravate tensions.

Ambassador Zhang said that India's move has also challenged China's sovereign interests and violated bilateral agreement on maintaining peace and stability in the border area. China is seriously concerned. He emphasized that India's action is not valid in relation to China and will not change China's exercise of sovereignty and effective administrative jurisdiction over the relevant territory.

Ambassador Zhang said that both India and Pakistan are China's friendly neighbors and major developing countries. They are both at a crucial period of development. China calls on the two sides to set store by the development of their own and peace in South Asia, find a proper solution to their historical grievances, discard the zero-sum game mentality, avoid unilateral action, and settle disputes peacefully to jointly maintain peace and stability in the region.