Pakistan asks OIC to show solidarity with IoK through action

JEDDAH: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that he called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to show solidarity with the people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir through action.

An emergency meeting of the OIC's Kashmir-focused wing took place after the Indian government rushed through a presidential decree earlier to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution which granted special status to Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The FM shared on social media that he asked the OIC session to recognise that unilateral step by India was against the status of the IoK as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In another tweet, FM Qureshi said that the OIC recognised that the aggression has put more than 1.5 billion people of South Asia at risk.

“I reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and that India’s hostility doesn’t give me much hope for a covenant for peace,” he stated in a tweet.

The session which was held in Jeddah was attended by representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other member countries.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi represented Pakistan at the OIC session. 

On Monday, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the resolution to scarp Article 370 in Rajya Sabha, which revoked the special status granted to occupied Kashmir and made the state a Union Territory with the legislature. The announcement sparked chaotic scenes in the Indian parliament, with opposition politicians shouting protests, and the Congress describing the decision as a "catastrophic step".

The latest development was strongly condemned by Pakistani politicians. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there was a threat of genocide and ethnic cleansing in occupied Kashmir after India revoked Article 370. He added that Pakistan would request and appeal to the United Nations, OIC, friendly countries and human rights organisations not to remain silent on the issue.

Earlier, the OIC had said it was deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in IoK including reports of deployment of additional paramilitary forces and use of banned cluster munition by the Indian forces to target civilians.

The OIC had reiterated its call upon the international community to rise up to its responsibility for the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.