Kashmir integral part of India, says MEA on OIC resolutions

With the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation adopting resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, India on Saturday said that the state is an integral part of India and its matters are strictly internal.

Answering a query regarding India's participation at the OIC in Abu Dhabi and resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that India's stand on the issue was consistent and well-known.

"As regards the resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, our stand is consistent and well-known. We reaffirm that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and is a matter strictly internal to India," he said.

He said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had attended the OIC's plenary session at Abu Dhabi on Friday as the Guest of Honour at the invitation extended by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

"We deeply appreciate this historic gesture on the 50th anniversary of their first meeting," the spokesperson said.

It was the first time that India had attended the plenary as guest of honour.

Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign Office claimed that the OIC Ministerial expressed "support" for Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue.

It said the OIC member states 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, it claimed, expressed concern over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and reminded the international community of its obligation to ensure the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The Pakistan Foreign Office statement also said that in the context of the current volatile situation in the region, the OIC member states adopted a new resolution sponsored by Pakistan, which "expressed grave concern over the Indian violation of Pakistani airspace, affirmed Pakistan's right to self-defence and urged India to refrain from the threat or use of force".

It said the OIC resolution on regional peace and security in South Asia also welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's renewed offer of dialogue to India and the goodwill gesture of handing over the Indian pilot.

The resolution called for restraint and de-escalation as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means.

It said the OIC adopted two other resolutions sponsored by Pakistan on international disarmament and non-proliferation issues and reform of the UN Security Council.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi did not attend the plenary OIC event due to the presence of his Indian counterpart at the event.

Qureshi had told the Pakistan Parliament that he would skip the session due to the OIC's failure to rescind the invitation to India.

--IANS

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