Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 3: Following Sushma Swaraj’s speech at the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), India reacted mutedly on Kashmir resolutions and Islamic union’s role in maintaining peace.
This is the first time in fifty decades that India participated in the annual OIC meeting. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates, Swaraj was 'guest of honour' and addressed the opening meeting comprising of the Council of foreign ministers on March 1. Pakistan chose to stay away from the 46th ministerial summit citing that India has no moral and legal reasons to attend the meeting.
The Abu Dhabi resolution appreciated Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s goodwill gesture to send back Indian pilot with the aim of mitigating the tension between the nations. However, the main statement released at the end of the conference eluded mention of Kashmir given that there was an entire paragraph dedicated to the plight of war-hit Muslim communities in last year’s declaration held in Dhaka.
Raveesh Kumar, the external affairs ministry spokesperson, expressed India’s profound appreciation to the extraordinary gesture of inviting foreign minister to speak at the ministerial plenary. Reacting to the OIC declaration, he said that India’s stand with regard to the Jammu and Kashmir resolutions is consistent. He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir have been and will remain a part of India and any issues related to Jammu and Kashmir are the country’s internal matter. His remarks appeared politer than India's reaction to preceding declarations when India had responded sternly to the OIC resolutions and warned it to abstain from referring in such manner.
Speaking at a press meeting on OIC summit, the UAE crown prince declared that the OIC wants to foster positive liaison with India and hopes for supporting this relationship so that India can one day become a member of the OIC. Inviting India’s external affairs minister as a guest of honour is a significant moment in the history of OIC. According to the official sources, the political resolutions, such as those on Kashmir, stand on country proposals and these documents cannot be discussed. They maintained that the Abu Dhabi declaration was the chief document discussed. In the meantime, a statement issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry acknowledged that OIC will consistently support the Kashmiri people.
The OIC meeting reiterated the fact the Jammu and Kashmir is the primary cause of tension between India and Pakistan and the resolution of this dispute is crucial for restoring harmony in South Asia.