Resume dialogue, solve Kashmir: OIC to India, Pakistan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen urged India and Pakistan to resume dialogue to solve their differences.

Addressing the OIC’s Ministerial Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, on the sidelines of the 14th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia late Wednesday, Othaimeen described Kashmir as one of the most important issues on the agenda of the 57-member grouping of Muslim nations.

“A genuine dialogue between Pakistan and India should resume, which will be the best framework for addressing all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”

He said that Kashmir movement is a “legitimate struggle” for the realization of right of people in full conformity with the UN resolutions and international law.

“Attempts to suppress or degrade it by linking it to terrorism are, therefore, futile and in violation of the UN resolutions and International law,” said Othaimeen.

Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Niger and Saudi Arabia are members of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey had been presiding the group meetings, since 2016. Its term ends this month.

The meeting was also attended by President of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan.

The OIC secretary-general asked India to cease using force against people and stop human rights violations.

Assuring that the OIC will continue to work towards a peaceful solution to the Kashmir conflict, he said: “The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission will also continue to monitor serious violations of human rights in Kashmir and will continue to raise it with other international human rights bodies.”



- Turkey concerned

Earlier, Turkey expressed its "deep concern” on the security and humanitarian situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Turkey sincerely desires that Kashmir issue is resolved through peaceful means between India and Pakistan based on relevant UN resolutions in line with aspirations of the people of Kashmir," Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusoglu tweeted.

His remarks came after attending the Contact Group meeting.

Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.