The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are holding a special session in Geneva to discuss how to defuse the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan.

The chairman of the talks, the Chinese foreign minister, Tang Jiaxuan, said the overriding aim was to restore peace and stability.

The five powers -- the only countries formally recognised as nuclear powers -- are considering a draft statement expected to refuse that recognition to India and Pakistan.

The BBC diplomatic correspondent says the big five want to convince the world that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is still valid, and to dissuade other countries from joining an arms race that could wreck it.

The statement is also expected to call for ways of helping Indian and Pakistan settle their differences over Kashmir -- a source of constant tension between the two countries.