Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir

Jeddah – The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held an emergency meeting at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on 26th February 2019. The meeting was called preceding the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers being held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting was chaired, on behalf of the Secretary General by Assistant Secretary General Amb Hameed A. Opeloyeru, and attended by Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Tehmina Janjua and Permanent Representatives of Azerbaijan Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Niger. The meeting was also attended by President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

In his opening remarks, speaking on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General expressed grave concern at the rising tension in South Asia. He strongly condemned the recent wave of repression.

He addresed the brutal killing of innocent Kashmiris by the Indian occupation forces, frequent incidents of rape especially of minor girls.

The Assistant Secretary General reiterated OIC’s principled position on supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir in achieving their legitimate rights, including the right of self-determination. He emphasized that conflict should be resolved in accordance with the aspiration of Kashmiri people and OIC and United Nations (UN) resolutions.

oic contact group on jammu and kashmir.
Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir – chairman.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary apprised the participants on the recent Indian threats to regional peace and security and continued Indian repression and recent escalation in atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of IoK in their just struggle to achieve the inalienable right to self-determination. She recalled Pakistani Prime Minister’s concrete offer for dialogue to India.

H.E. Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir also attended meeting of the Contact Group and briefed the members on the continued oppressive policies of Indian security forces in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that had alienated Kashmiri people.

The Contact Group appreciated Prime Minister of Pakistan’s offer for peace and dialogue to India to resolve all issues.

The Contact Group also expressed deep concern over the heightened tension and called for immediate de-escalation in the region.

The Contact Group condemned incursion by Indian aircraft across LOC and dropping of bombs.

oic contact group on jammu and kashmir
Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir

The Contact Group also request the OIC-Council of Foreign Ministers to:

a. Urge the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary General to take a proactive role, through statesmanship and mediation under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter, to defuse the rising tensions and escalation created by India.

b. Urge the UN Secretary General to appoint a Special Envoy on Kashmir.

c. Demand that India stops forthwith its use of brute force, indiscriminate killings and violations of human rights of Kashmiris; and stem drift towards genocide in the IOK.

d. Uphold the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir people in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

e. Ask India to withdraw its occupation forces from IOK.

f. Demand that India release detained Kashmiri leaders forthwith.

g. Support the recommendations of the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir of the United Kingdom Parliament which calls on India to rescind two draconian laws – Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act – that foster a culture of impunity.

h. Support the recommendation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry to directly assess the human rights situation in IOK.

i. Implement recommendations of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) which, inter-alia, call for; (i) a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to put pressure on India to meet its human rights obligations; (ii) coordinate and collaborate with the Islamic Development Bank and Islamic Development Fund to initiate development projects in the IOK; and (iii) urge India to remove travel restrictions on Kashmiri leaders and facilitate their free movement abroad.

j. Demand that India provided access to a fact fining mission of the IPHRC to investigate human rights situation in IOK and to follow-up on its report of 2017.

The members of the Contact Group reiterated their continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called on India to immediately stop repressive security operations against the people of Jammu and Kashmir, respect the fundamental and basic human rights and address the dispute in accordance with the relevant OIC and United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions on the subject as well as the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, the principle of self-determination and Human Rights.

The Contact Group on the OIC and the UN Secretary to use their good offices to arrest the dangerous escalation by India which is threat to regional peace and security. It was underscored that priority should be given to peace and dialogue.

The Contact Group was formed in 1994 to coordinate policy of OIC on Jammu and Kashmir.

Waqar Naseem Wamiq is a Riyadh based freelance journalist. Wamiq believes in balanced, independent and fair conversations on all matters. He can be reached at [email protected]