OIC has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs: MEA

Srinagar, Oct 19: Accusing Pakistan of using Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance its political agenda and divert international attention from its own internal issues, India on Monday rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in resolutions adopted at an OIC meeting.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the references to India as “malicious, biased, and false” and expressed disappointment over the OIC’s decision to include them in resolutions adopted at the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Baghdad over the weekend.
The ministry alleged that Pakistan had orchestrated the references and accused the OIC of allowing itself to be used to promote Islamabad’s agenda.
Reiterating India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the MEA said the OIC has no authority to comment on matters it considers India’s internal affairs.
It maintained that the two Union Territories (J&K and Ladakh) were integral parts of India and said political statements would not alter that position.
The MEA also cited infrastructure development, tourism and improved connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, claiming that these had brought benefits to the region’s people.
In contrast, it accused Pakistan of using violence and repression against civilian protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), alleging that scores of people, including women and children, had been killed.
The MEA further alleged that restrictions on media coverage had failed to conceal what it described as serious human rights violations in the region.
According to the ministry, the outstanding issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir were Pakistan’s withdrawal from territories under its occupation and an end to its alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
India also criticised other references in the OIC resolutions, including those concerning Islamophobia, describing them as attempts to divert attention from Pakistan’s record on minority rights, sectarian violence, governance and political instability.
The ministry questioned the credibility of the OIC, saying its repeated endorsement of what India termed anti-India narratives raised concerns about the organisation’s integrity.
The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held its meeting in Baghdad on Saturday and Sunday, during which resolutions included references to India and Jammu and Kashmir.
India has consistently opposed the OIC’s statements on Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the issue falls within its domestic jurisdiction. Pakistan, meanwhile, has continued to raise the issue at international forums. (KNO)