Kashmir on OIC agenda: Pakistan discusses Kashmir issue with Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Niger, raises human rights concerns

During the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Kashmir held a meeting to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign ministers and senior officials from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Niger participated in the meeting. The session was chaired by OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and a Kashmiri delegation was also present. Participants reviewed the political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed concern over human rights conditions in the region.

Discussion on Kashmir issue

Tariq Fatimi, the Special Assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, said that lasting peace in South Asia is linked to resolving the Kashmir dispute. He also called for the release of political prisoners and urged the OIC to apply constructive pressure on India(BHARAT).

OIC’s Position

The OIC welcomed the recent ceasefire between India(BHARAT) and Pakistan and praised efforts for mediation. The organization noted that recent events show it is difficult to achieve lasting peace in the region without resolving the Kashmir issue. The meeting also highlighted that provocative statements by regional leaders could affect peace efforts.

Comments on arrests and restrictions

The OIC expressed concern over the large-scale arrests of political and human rights activists in Jammu and Kashmir. It also criticized the restrictions on religious gatherings at Jamia Masjid and Eidgah in Srinagar, calling them unfair. The organization reiterated its rejection of the India(BHARAT)n government’s decisions on August 5, 2019, and the demographic changes that followed. It also stated that elections held in Kashmir cannot replace the right to self-determination.

Turkey’s President raises Kashmir at UNGA

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He called for the dispute to be resolved through dialogue between India(BHARAT) and Pakistan and suggested seeking support from the UN Security Council to address the concerns of the Kashmiri people.