Daily Times

Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has said that Kashmir was on the top priority of the OIC’s agenda and he will submit a comprehensive assessment report on the human rights situation in Kashmir to member countries.

He made these remarks during a joint presser with Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President in Muzaffarabad on Sunday at Presidency after meeting with the AJK president and prime minister and a brief visit to the Line of Control (LoC) and refugee camps. The OIC chief said he was visiting AJK under the resolutions passed by the OIC contact group on Kashmir to assess the situation and will submit a comprehensive report to the group and Foreign Minister’s Council of the member countries and would like to seek permission from India to visit the other side of the LOC. He said the second purpose of his visit was to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir who had been suffering for long time and assured them that OIC being a Muslim community was making constant efforts to find a solution to their issue in consultation with the world community. He said during his day-long visit to AJK, he met with people affected by Indian firing across LOC and refugees migrated from the Indian side of Kashmir due to atrocities to assess their problems and sufferings as to made part of his assessment report. Meanwhile, Hissein Brahim laid a wreath at the Jammu and Kashmir Monument, built in memory of Kashmiri martyrs and their struggle.

The OIC chief paid his respects and offered Fateha for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Kashmir cause.

Taking place at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, this is his first country visit since assuming office in November 2021. The Muslim world body always raised voice against the Indian atrocities in IIOJK and supported the right to self-determination of Kashmiris as per UN resolutions. In the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Islamabad in March this year, the Muslim world body had adopted a joint action plan on Kashmir issue. Under the plan, the OIC countries agreed to raise the Kashmir issue in their bilateral engagements with India and underscore respect for the fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people, as well as lend support to monitor human rights violations in the IIOJK. On May 16, 2022, OIC General Secretariat expressed deep concern over India’s attempts to redraw the electoral boundaries of the IIOJK altering the demographic structure of the territory and violating the rights of the Kashmiri people.

The OIC in a strongly worded statement condemned the Indian illegal move in IIOJK which is an internationally accepted disputed territory. The “delimitation” exercises are in direct contravention of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.