OIC supports Kashmiris' right to self-determination: Pak

Pakistan today claimed that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has backed the "right to self-determination" for Kashmiris in accordance with UN resolutions and that the organisation's envoy Abdullah Al-Alim would soon visit Jammu and Kashmir.
The Foreign Office (FO) here said in a statement that the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met on the sidelines of the ongoing 13th OIC Summit in Turkey.
"(It) reiterated OIC's continued support to the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for realisation of their right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions," it said.

Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, led the Pakistani delegation to the meeting chaired by OIC Secretary General's Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Al-Alim.
Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey and Senior Representatives of Saudi Arabia and Niger also attended.
Secretary General's Special Representative reiterated the principled position of OIC of continued support to the Kashmiri people in their "legitimate struggle" for the "right to self-determination" and underscored that the Contact Group had been constantly conveying the OIC's concerns to the international community regarding the "flagrant human rights violations and abuse of the basic rights of the Kashmiris".

"He regretted some attempts to equate the Kashmiri struggle with terrorism, and emphasised that the Kashmiris were solely striving to achieve their inalienable right in accordance with relevant UN resolutions," the statement said.

He welcomed the establishment of Standing Mechanism of OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) to monitor "human rights" situation in Kashmir, it said.
The Standing Mechanism will maintain close contact with Kashmiri civil society and NGOs working in the field to fulfil its mandated task, the statement said.
The Special Representative would also undertake a visit to Jammu and Kashmir shortly, it said.
Aziz reiterated Pakistan's continued diplomatic, moral and political support to the people of "Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir" in their just struggle for their right to self-determination as per UN resolutions.

The Foreign Ministers and Senior Representatives at the meeting also said that the unresolved nature of the Kashmir dispute had implications for regional peace and security.
Jeddah-based OIC is a group of 57 Muslim countries.