India rejects OIC statement on Kashmir

India on Sunday expressed ‘regret’ on observations about Kashmir made by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) at its summit in Dakar at Senegal. The OIC had suggested in its final communiqué at the conference on March 14 that the Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions. The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected these observations, saying the 57-nation grouping had “no locus standi” to comment on India’s internal affairs.

“We note with regret that the OIC in the documents issued following its summit on March 13-14 has once again chosen to comment on Jammu and Kashmir and issues internal to India. The OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs, including Jammu and Kashmir that is an integral part of India. We strongly reject all such comments,” said the MEA spokesperson.

While OIC had made similar observations earlier, it had been silent on the Kashmir issue for the last few years. The OIC statement was made at a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. In its final communiqué, OIC had suggested that India allow an OIC fact-finding mission to ‘verify’ the human rights condition in Jammu and Kashmir. Mirwaiz Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, led a Kashmiri delegation to the conference. Reports from Dakar said OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated the 57-member group’s complete and unflinching support to what he described as the just cause of Kashmir.