NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

OIC Can Persuade India and Pakistan to Resolve 'Kashmir Conflict'

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center will participate in the Thirty-eight Session of the Council of the Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from June 28 - 30, 2011.

Dr. Fai received the invitation from the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC.

OIC's aim is to preserve and promote the lofty Islamic values of peace, compassion, tolerance, equality, justice and human dignity; and to endeavor to work for revitalizing Islam's pioneering role in the world while ensuring sustainable development, progress and prosperity for the peoples of Member States. The OIC attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world and attempts to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well being of Muslims. Fifty-seven members states of the United Nations are the permanent delegates of the OIC.

The CFM has always reiterated the need for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of all conflicts in the Islamic world and reaffirmed its principled support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Fai said that the Kashmiri delegation will participate in "the OIC Contact Group Meeting on Jammu & Kashmir." The delegation will impress upon the members of the CFM to express concern at the ongoing indiscriminate use of force by Indian military and paramilitary forces against the people of Kashmir which have resulted in killing of scores of innocent and unarmed civilians in 2011 alone as well as injuries to hundreds of others including women, children and elderly.

Recently, these human rights abuses in Kashmir have been documented by Mr. Christof Heynes, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary and Arbitrary Execution. Mr. Heynes submitted his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2011.

Fai continued that (OIC) has always adopted resolutions to promote a just and peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and the aspiration of the people and has given its support to the fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people, including their right to self-determination.

Fai said that the Kashmiri delegation will remind Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC of his comments which he made on September 24, 2010 in New York, "A peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute would serve not only the people of India and Pakistan but the overall interest of the region. It is, therefore, with this in mind that the OIC continues to encourage the two parties to sustain and push forward the peace process in order to resolve all outstanding issues while associating the Kahsmiri people in a result-oriented dialogue."

It is undoubtedly a statement of fact that the resolution of Kashmir will guarantee a peace and stability in the region of South Asia which includes, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan - a region which contains one fifth of total human race, Fai added.

Fai welcomed the joint statement issued by Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution of Kashmir. However, ground situation demands that both countries need to defined the parameters of the talks and include the leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in a dialogue process for a durable and lasting solution of Kashmir problem, Fai stressed.

The Kashmiri delegation includes, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani, represented by Ghulam Mohammad Safi, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Barrister Majid Tramboo & Professor Nazir a. Shawl.