OIC role urged to resolve Kashmir issue

Introdution

The OIC has set up an independent human rights commission, and we feel
that this commission should visit Kashmir. As many as 9,000 people
disappeared without trace from Kashmir during the last two decades and
the commission should find out the reason behind this, he said.
The Mirwaiz said his talks with the OIC officials in Jeddah covered possible
cooperation between the European Union and the OIC in raising the
Kashmiri issue on international platforms.
Mirwaiz described the conditions in the valley as \”very bad\” and
contravene all principles of human rights. Troops with special powers are
stationed in Kashmir for the last two decades, he said.
He lauded the support extended by Saudi Arabia under the leadership of
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the Kashmiri cause.
Stemming from its Islamic role in the Arab and Muslim world, the Kingdom
has been very clear in its stance on the issue of Kashmir.
“We realize that the Saudi government is maintaining relations with India
and Pakistan, but there are a number of violations that are committed by
the Indian government,” he said.
“We are part of the Islamic nation and special responsibility lies on Saudi
Arabia,” he added.
“Undoubtably,” Mirwaiz said, “we are seeking a peaceful solution and the
Indian government should be told to stop violation of the human rights.”
On the military situation, he said that the people of Kashmir are seeking a
peaceful solution. But the Indian government failed to respond with a
positive gesture by withdrawing troops. “There are still 6,000 soldiers
stationed in Kashmir despite the fact that they declared a plan for gradual
withdrawal,” the Kashmiri leader said.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Masood Khan on Tuesday urged
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play its active role for the
oppressed people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).
Masood Khan, while demanding India to end its atrocities in the held valley,
also stressed upon the Saudi Arabian government to use its influence on
the solution of the on-going conflict.
Extending support to the Kashmiris, the AJK president said: “Kashmiris are
not orphans, Pakistan will continue to support them at every forum.”
He maintained that the OIC should take notice of the grave rights violations
in the held valley.
And OIC also have to play role in Kashmir issue because this organization
build up due to safeguard of Muslim community and there security of life
and there places but unfortunately it didn’t worked properly due to some
reasons

OIC’s rebuke to India on Kashmir issue

New Delhi recently lashed out over a reference in a strong-worded

communiqué by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to the Kashmir
issue at the recent 14th Islamic Summit of the OIC at Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
This was a great rebuke to India because just three months ago, India was
the guest of honour at an OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi. Indian foreign minister
Ms Sushma Swaraj had then hailed the OIC as “an organisation that has a
key role in shaping our world”.

The visibly upset Indian foreign ministry declared: “We categorically reject
yet another unacceptable reference to matters internal to India in the final
communiqué adopted at the conclusion of the 14th Islamic Summit of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states held at Makkah,
Saudi Arabia on 31 May 2019. The OIC has no locus standi in matters
relating to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of
India. It is reiterated that OIC should refrain from making such
unwarranted references”.

The OIC, at its conference at Makkah, approved Yousef Aldobeay of Saudi

Arabia as the OIC’s special envoy for Jammu and Kashmir, besides making
important references to the Kashmir issue. The Final Communique of the
14th Islamic Summit Conference in Makkah “reaffirmed its principled
support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their
legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant UN
resolutions”. The Conference “condemned the recent outbreaks of violence
in the region and invited India to implement the relevant Security Council
resolutions to settle its protracted conflict with its neighbour”. It also called
for “the expedited establishment of a UN commission of inquiry to
investigate into the grave human rights violations in Kashmir, and called on
India to allow this proposed commission and international human rights
organizations to access Indian-occupied Kashmir”.

In December 2018, the OIC General Secretariat had “expressed strong

condemnation of the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in
Indian-occupied Kashmir”, described the “direct shooting at
demonstrators” as a “terrorist act”, and “called upon the international
community to play its role in order to reach a just and lasting solution to
the conflict in Kashmir”.

Earlier, the 2017 session of the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers had
adopted a resolution “reaffirming the unwavering support for the Kashmiri
people in their just cause”, “expressing deep concern at atrocious human
rights violations being committed by the Indian occupation forces since
1947”, and “paying rich tribute to the valiant people of IoK who continue to
wage heroic struggle”.

According to a report in the Indian media, the OIC, formerly Organisation of

the Islamic Conference, is the second largest inter-governmental
organisation in the world after the United Nations, with a membership of
57 states in four continents. The OIC describes itself as “the collective voice
of the Muslim world”, and its stated objective is “to safeguard and protect
the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international
peace and harmony among various people of the world”. The OIC has
reserved its membership for Muslim-majority countries. Russia, Thailand,
and a couple of other small countries have observer status. At the 45th
session of the Foreign Ministers’ Summit in May 2018, Bangladesh, the host
country, had suggested that India, where more than 10pc of the world’s
Muslims live, should be given the Observer status, but Pakistan had
opposed the proposal.

In the context of current events, the OIC statement on held Kashmir is a

noteworthy victory for Pakistan and shows its excellent relations with the
Muslim world. It also shows to the world that while India brutally
suppresses the people of occupied Kashmir through harsh counter-
insurgency tactics, Pakistan continues to follow a clear well-executed policy
on the issue, which has been thrust back in the spotlight, especially after
the Pulwama incident.
OIC backs Pakistan over Kashmir issue

The OIC secretary-general, Yousaf Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, who arrived in

Islamabad yesterday, held talks with Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Radio Pakistan reported that the two leaders said there was hundred per
cent unanimity of views on all issues facing the Muslim Ummah
(community) and the way forward.

The OIC Secretary-General said his organisation has same position as that
of Pakistan on the issues of Kashmir, Palestine, Islamophobia and plight of
Muslim communities in non-Muslim nations.

"Kashmir has always been on top of the agenda of OIC," the OIC Secretary-
General said in response to a question during a joint press conference.
He said the OIC has been urging India to provide access to Kashmir but
unfortunately India has declined to accede to the request.
He said India also opposed visit of an OIC Human Rights Commission to
Kashmir.
The OIC secretary-general said despite denial by India, "we should keep
pressure on New Delhi on the issue of human rights violations in Kashmir
and peaceful resolution of the dispute."

India maintains that OIC, a grouping of 57 Muslim countries, has no locus

standi on the Kashmir issue.

Othaimeen thanked Pakistan for supporting programmes and causes

espoused by OIC and said the two sides discussed holding of the upcoming
summit of OIC on Science and Technology.

He said the OIC condemns all terrorist acts in Pakistan or any other
country. He said terrorism is terrorism and it has no race or religion.
"We condemn terrorism no matter where it happens in the world as Islamic
is religion of peace and co-existence," he said.

The OIC Secretary-General said the two sides have vowed to work closely
on all issues facing the ummah.

Aziz thanked the OIC and the Muslim countries for their consistent support
on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
"We agreed to work together to combat Islamophobia and hatred against
Muslims and formulate joint Islamic action against publication of
blasphemous material including on social media.

India Rejects OIC role on Kashmir issue

NEW DELHI: After Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security

and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz addressed the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, India rejected
allegations levelled against it and recalled its earlier position that the OIC
had no locus standi in the matter, The Hindu reported on Wednesday.

It quoted Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup as telling

reporters in New York that India had a consistent position on the OIC
Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir and had nothing more to add to it.
On a similar occasion earlier, the then spokesperson had said: “The OIC has
no locus standi on matters concerning the internal affairs of India or the
recent incidents on the LoC,” The Hindu said.

Mr Aziz, addressing the meeting, accused India of trying “to quell the
Kashmiri struggle by use of brute force”. “The Kashmiri leaders continue to
remain in detention or have been put under house arrest… India is
attempting to change the demographic make-up of Indian Occupied Jammu
and Kashmir by settling non-State, non-Muslim subjects in occupied Jammu
and Kashmir,” Mr Aziz said, adding that Pakistan was steadfast “in
extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir
in their just struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.”

Saudi Arabia Role in Kashmir issue

Saudi Arabia can’t help solve Kashmir issue because it now lacks legitimacy
in Muslim world Saudi Arabia not the inspiration

Can Saudi Arabia help solve the Kashmir issue? An MbS-led Saudi Arabia
does not have legitimacy in the larger Islamic world despite physically
being at the centre of the Muslim ideological imagination.
Today, the ordinary South Asian Muslim may be more thrilled by
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad than
MbS. Mahathir’s condemnation of the situation in Kashmir and not bowing
down to India’s pressure of cancelling palm oil import has already
enhanced his international credibility. Some would even put Imran Khan in
the same list. Not that these leaders are above board but the point being
made here is that Saudi Arabia is in no position to influence the thinking of
ordinary Muslims or alter the religio-political discourse in the Islamic
world.

While Saudi Arabia’s efforts to distance itself from its staple Wahabi
ideology may open doors for Muslim states and Muslim citizens to think
deeply about the concept of Islamic nationalism, the idea of ummah has not
died entirely. It probably requires an intelligent and organic discourse that
is yet to take place. The absence of a strong entity or a forum in the Islamic
world that has legitimate capacity to engage with issues faced by Muslims
across the world could create greater space for non-state militant entities,
or simply nourish frustration.

The Indian or for that matter a Kashmiri Muslim, on the other hand,
wouldn’t be inspired by an oppressive prince as they are increasingly
feeling more scared, disenfranchised and unrepresented in India. It’s a fact
that the number of Muslim representatives in the Indian Parliament is
nowhere close to being proportionate to their share in the country’s
population. The Muslim representation in the Indian military has also
reduced. For Muslims in India, their conditions are a greater influence than
ideology.

Moreover, once in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Muslim, due to sharing a

common language, is far closer to a Pakistani Muslim than Muslims from
other parts of the world. I recall my own experience of sitting in the
mosque of the Prophet in Medina in a group that had women from different
parts of Pakistan and India (including from Kerala) as we were all
identified as belonging to the same language category – Urdu.