India has welcomed the reported exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir from the list of unresolved international disputes.

“It has been reported that UN has dropped Kashmir from the list of unresolved disputed. I think, if this step has been taken, I welcome it,” Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told reporters in New Delhi on Monday.

“We have always firmly maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India… This a very welcome step and we hope that in same way the UN addresses our bilateral issues,” she added.

The omission of Jammu and Kashmir from a list of disputes under the observation of the UN Security Council was noticed by Pakistan whose envoy has lodged a protest.

The development has come as a setback to Pakistan which has been asking the world body to intervene on the issue.