OIC concerned over violation of Pakistani airspace, Indian aggression
By
News Desk
Published: March 2, 2019
Member states reaffirm their unwavering support to Kashmiri people. PHOTO: TWITTER/OIC
The OIC ministerial meeting that concluded on Saturday in Abu Dhabi
expressed grave concern over violation of Pakistani airspace by India, affirmed Pakistan’s right to self-defence and urged India to refrain from the threat or use of force.
The OIC member states adopted a new resolution sponsored by Pakistan in the context of current volatile situation in the region, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The resolution on regional peace and security in South Asia also
welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s renewed offer of dialogue to India and the goodwill gesture of handing over the captured Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
The resolution called for restraint and de-escalation as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means.
The OIC member states also
reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Kashmiri people in their just cause.
In the resolution, adopted by the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the member states also
reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia.
The OIC resolution also
condemned in the strongest terms recent wave of Indian terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and expressed deep concern over the atrocities and human rights violations in the IoK. It also reminded the international community of its obligation to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
In another significant development,
the OIC elected Pakistan as a member of its Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission from the Asian region, in acknowledgement of Pakistan’s constructive contribution to human rights discourse, norms and policies.
The OIC adopted two other resolutions sponsored by Pakistan on international disarmament and non-proliferation issues and reform of the UN Security Council.
The strong OIC support to the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the centrality of this core issue to regional peace is recognition of the key role that Pakistan plays as a founding OIC member.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan boycotted the plenary session of the 46th CFM at the Foreign Minister level due to presence of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as a ‘guest of honour’.
Before the current escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India, the former was quietly pushing the UAE to withdraw the invitation given the fact that the decision was taken without consulting other member countries.
The controversy came into the open after India violated Pakistan’s airspace on Tuesday and launched what it said were “preemptive strikes” targeting the alleged terrorist camps of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM). A day later, Pakistan retaliated with across the Line of Control air strikes. The Pakistani fighter jets not only shot down an Indian warplane but also took its pilot into custody.
As tensions further grew, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan would not attend the OIC moot if invitation to the Indian foreign minister was not withdrawn.
Despite hectic efforts, the UAE said since the invitation was extended before the Pulwama attack; hence, it was difficult to withdraw it now.
It prompted the foreign minister to write a letter to his UAE counterpart, explaining the reasons why he would be unable to attend the OIC conference.
He argued that India was not a member of the OIC and lacked an observer status. More importantly, he said India had a longstanding conflict with Pakistan, a founding member of the OIC.
He also pointed towards the Indian forces’ atrocities in occupied Kashmir and mistreatment of its minorities, including Muslims.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1921734/1-oic-concerned-violation-pakistani-airspace-indian-aggression/
