The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday, called upon member states to raise the issue of Kashmir in their bilateral engagements with India. This decision was taken to safeguard the fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people in the territory.
The Group also affirmed that Indian actions of August 5, 2019, and new domicile rules are in complete violation of the UNSC resolutions, international laws including the 4th Geneva Conventions, and India’s solemn commitments to implement UNSC resolutions.
The wording of the communiqué has been the strongest seen so far from the OIC, many of the countries which have awarded highest awards to Prime Minister Modi, while others have kept trade ties with India supreme.
“It requested the OIC Secretary-General to highlight the worsening situation in J&K at various international fora including the United Nations and call for immediate steps for amelioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation and peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute,” stated the communiqué
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a statement, said, “The OIC must urge India to rescind its unilateral and illegal actions since August 5, 2019, implement the relevant UNSC resolutions to hold an UN-supervised plebiscite, halt its blatant human rights violations and provide unhindered access to human rights organisations and international media to investigate and report on the situation in the territory”.
He also held a telephonic conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Al Saud. Matters of mutual interest, including COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced bilateral cooperation and situation in Kashmir were discussed, said the Foreign Office.
The Emergency Virtual Meeting was held on Pakistan’s call, to take up the worsening situation in Kashmir. The meeting was chaired by OIC Secretary-General, Dr Yousaf Al-Othaimeen, and Qureshi apprised the participants of the prevailing situation in the valley and briefed them on various aspects of the issue.
Kashmir issue of utmost importance to Muslim Ummah, says OIC
The communiqué rejected the newly-notified “Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Order 2020” and “Jammu & Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate Rules 2020” aimed at changing the demographic structure of the valley.
It affirmed that any so-called political process held under alleged foreign occupation cannot substitute the exercise of the right to self-determination by the people of Kashmir as provided for in relevant UNSC resolutions.
The OIC emphasized that the question of Kashmir is of utmost importance for Muslim Ummah and requested the General Secretariat and OIC affiliated and specialized institutions and subsidiary organs, to take necessary measures to ensure implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.
The ministerial meeting also took note of the recent developments and expressed deep concern over the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in the valley since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019.
It welcomed the statement issued by the UN Secretary-General on August 8, 2019, affirming that the position of the United Nations on Kashmir region is governed by the UN Charter and applicable UN Security Council Resolutions, and the statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on October 29, 2019, expressing extreme concern over the worsening human rights situation in J&K.
It also welcomed the UN Security Council meetings of August 16, 2019, and January 15, 2020, considering the situation arising from India’s actions as well. Open discussion of the OIC-IPHRC under its “Standing Mechanism to Monitor Human Rights Situation in Kashmir” during its 16th Regular Session on November 25, 2019, that, inter alia, strongly condemned the continued human rights violations in Kashmir.
The Group also welcomed the two reports issued by the UN OHCHR in June 2018 and July 2019 comprehensively documenting the gross and systematic violations of human rights in Kashmir.
It further welcomed the role played by world leaders, parliamentarians, human rights organisations and international media, in raising their voices against alleged Indian atrocities in J&K.
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