The OIC Contact Group met during the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the worsening situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir. The meeting was led by the OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and attended by representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Niger, and Azerbaijan. A delegation of Kashmiri leaders also joined the session to share concerns about human rights violations in the region.
Pakistan’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, strongly condemned India’s illegal occupation and harsh measures in Kashmir. He accused India of trying to change the region’s population through unlawful means and suppressing basic rights. He said lasting peace in South Asia depends on solving the Kashmir issue and urged the OIC to press India to release political prisoners and stop its brutality.
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The OIC welcomed the recent ceasefire but warned that peace remains fragile without resolving the core dispute. They referred to the Pahalgam incident as proof that regional stability is still at risk. The group condemned the arrests of thousands of political workers and restrictions on religious gatherings in Srinagar, including bans at the Jamia Mosque and Eidgah.
In a strong statement, the OIC rejected India’s actions of August 5, 2019, which revoked Kashmir’s special status. It said Indian-organized elections in the region cannot replace the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The group insisted that only a fair and peaceful solution based on international law can ensure justice for Kashmiris.
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Finally, the OIC welcomed the recent visit of its Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. The group said this visit was important for raising global awareness. It reaffirmed its full support for the rights of the Kashmiri people and called for urgent global action to end their suffering.