OIC resolution calls for restraint between India, Pak

A day after hosting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as Guest of Honour, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday adopted a resolution containing certain critical remarks against India while advocating de-escalation between India and Pakistan.

The resolution adopted at the end of the two-day conference of ministers also called for restraint between India and Pakistan and advocated the need for resolving outstanding issues through peaceful means.

The document recognised "the need for early resumption of dialogue process between Pakistan and India, which is a prerequisite for development, peace and stability in South Asia."

"Let's look at it from a positive angle. The OIC had sent a very clear and positive sign to the people of India that the OIC appreciates the relationship with India and looks forward to strengthening our relationship to a point where we can embrace India in the OIC. I know we are not there yet, due to obvious reasons, but having India as a Guest of Honour was a historic moment for OIC and for India," Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister of UAE stated at the end of the two-day conference.

"The language has been there in our previous statements. The most important change in OIC is having India as Guest of Honour and having such a positive, strong, dedicated speech that we heard yesterday from India...which was well received," Al Nahyan told media with regard to the language used in the resolution.

Only yesterday the 57-member OIC hosted India as the Guest of Honour for the first time in its 50 year history. Addressing the plenary, Swaraj said countries providing shelter and funding to terrorism must be asked to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism based in their countries, as an apparent reference to Pakistan.

Those indulging in terrorism are resorting to "distortion of religion" and giving different names to the menace to justify it, she had outlined.

Meanwhile, commenting on the OIC resolution, the Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed, "As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well known. We reaffirm that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India."

The MEA further outlined India's appreciation of being invited as the Guest of Honour for the conference, stating, "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the 46th CFM session of the OIC at Abu Dhabi on March 1 as the Guest of Honour at the invitation extended by His Highness, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates. We deeply appreciate this historic gesture on the 50th anniversary of their first meeting.