Kashmir not India’s internal matter: OIC [The Nation] 21 Aug, 2016
ISLAMABAD - Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Iyad Amin Madani yesterday announced they would raise the Kashmir issue at all available forums, saying it was not simply an internal matter of India.Addressing a joint press conference with Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Madani,
the secretary general of 57-member OIC, termed the current wave of atrocities in Occupied Kashmir unfortunate, urging the international community to take notice of it and act to resolve the issue through peaceful means.Expressing grave concern over the blatant rights violation in the held valley, Madani regretted a very few voices had been raised against the Indian tyranny.“The situation in Held Kashmir is heading towards a referendum. No one should be afraid of a referendum and the issue should be resolved in the light of the United Nations resolutions and in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The human rights violations in Indian-Held Kashmir were not an internal matter of India,” he asserted.The secretary general said the OIC fully supports Pakistan over the issue. “The OIC has a dedicated special adviser on Kashmir and a liaison group that will meet at the UN General Assembly session in the United States,” he affirmed.The OIC general secretary also renewed support to the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people and said that it was an international and legitimate issue.He admitted mere issuing statements by the world bodies over the very serious situation in IOK was not sufficient and reiterated a political solution to the worsening situation.“The international community has the role to play in this regard,” he said, adding the world must realise that human rights violations should be addressed promptly.Madani who is on an official visit to Pakistan, narrating the ordeal of the Kashmiri people, said violence and aggression continued but there was a complete media blackout.He expressed the hope that a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan would take place to address the core issues.Sartaj condemned the use of lethal force by the Indian occupation forces in IOK against the Kashmiris who were peacefully protesting extrajudicial killings. In the last 40 days, more than 80 Kashmiris were martyred, 6,000 injured and over 100 had lost their eyesight due to pellet guns’ firing, he added.Sartaj thanked the OIC for consistently supporting Pakistan over the issue. “Peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is an imperative for regional peace and stability,” he stressed.Sartaj said the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir would be meeting again in September 2016 during the General Assembly session in New York in the face of the gross violations of human rights in IOK.Apprising the media men of his meeting with Madani, he said they exchanged views on further enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and OIC on the matters concerning the Muslim Ummah.He also briefed the OIC secretary general on the regional and the current IOK situation. Iyad Ameen Madani was also told about Pakistan’s desire of lasting peace in Afghanistan and the important role of OIC in support of peace efforts in that country. “We both stress the need of intensifying cooperation among the OIC countries and constructive exchange of ideas to address the increasing trends of Islamophobia and defamation of religions. We also agree that the platform of the OIC must be used to build a narrative against extremism and terrorism,” he added.Sartaj said Pakistan, as a founding member of the OIC, had always contributed towards strengthening the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Muslim countries.“We remain committed to working with OIC for advancing all the legitimate causes of the Muslim Ummah, including right to self-determination of the peoples of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.Responding to a query, Sartaj said they should wait for a response from Indian side after a letter was handed over to the Indian high commissioner, extending an invitation to the Indian foreign secretary to visit Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss the Kashmir dispute.To another question, he said UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon had offered facilitating the dialogue if requested by both sides.To a query, Madani replied Muslim countries were sovereign and could take their individual decisions. He lauded the role played by Pakistan as its founding member and dropped a hint that OIC would be soon holding its meeting in Islamabad, being a successful host to many international conferences.He said his visit also meant preparation for the upcoming meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in October this year to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.About the issue of Afghanistan, he said OIC was also organising an ulema conference for a prosperous, peaceful and united Afghanistan and expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for its support in this regard.Responding to a question about Palestine, Madani said OIC had been on the forefront to resolve the issue. He stated an OIC representative office was opened in Ramallah and expressed the hope that soon there would be a stable unity government in Palestine.Published in The Nation newspaper on 21-Aug-2016
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