Pakistan hails OIC for Kashmir stance

Islamabad, December 01, 2020 (PPI-OT): Pakistan has said it was extremely grateful for the explicit reiteration in the “Niamey Declaration” of the OIC’s principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for a “peaceful settlement in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.” Kashmir is a permanent issue on the agenda of the OIC.

“The government and people of Pakistan express sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the OIC and its Member States for reaffirming strong and unequivocal support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute during the just concluded 47th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Niamey, Niger”, said the Foreign Office.

Pakistan’s reaction came even as the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi taken aback by the resolutions coming from OIC said it “strongly and categorically reject the factually incorrect, gratuitous and unwarranted references to India in resolutions adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) at the 47th CFM Session in Niamey, Niger”

The CFM, attended by Foreign Ministers and representatives of OIC Member States, adopted a comprehensive and strongly-worded Resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Some of the other resolutions adopted by the CFM also included strong references to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“We extend our deep gratitude to Niger (as the new CFM Chair), Saudi Arabia (as Chair of 14th Islamic Summit), and Turkey (speaking on behalf of the Asian Group) for highlighting the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in their respective statements during the Opening Plenary Session of the CFM”, added the Foreign Office.

Pakistan also welcomed adoption of other resolutions by the CFM including: Resolution on Destruction of the Babri Masjid in India and Protection of Islamic Holy Places; Resolution on Safeguarding the Rights of Muslim Communities and Minorities in non-OIC States; and Resolution on Maintenance and Promotion of Regional Peace and Security in South Asia.

For Pakistan of special significance was the welcomes report of OIC Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir on his visit to Pakistan and AJK, which was submitted to the CFM.

“The OIC has always steadfastly supported the Kashmir cause as reflected in decisions and resolutions of the Islamic Summit and CFMs as well as statements by the OIC and its human rights body, Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC)”, said the Foreign Office.

Pakistan also expresses gratitude to the OIC for the unanimous adoption of Resolution on Islamophobia that, inter alia, designates 15 March as “International Day on Combating Islamophobia”, in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent endeavours to highlight concern in the Muslim Ummah regarding desecration of the Holy Quran and re-printing of caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

In Muzzafarabad, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, while expressing satisfaction over the strong and comprehensive resolution on Kashmir, passed at the 47th OIC Foreign Ministers conference, held at Niamey city of Niger, said that the approval of the resolution and the declaration of the conference in which the Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been highlighted, have poured cold water on the excitement of Indian rulers to push Kashmir issue at the back burner.

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