Daily Times

ISTANBUL: The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir has reaffirmed its continued support to the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

The group reiterated the commitment at its meeting in Istanbul, which was chaired by OIC Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir Abdullah Al-Alim on the sidelines of the 13th OIC Summit.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz led the Pakistani delegation to the meeting.

Alim said the Contact Group had been constantly conveying concerns to the international community about the flagrant human rights violations and abuse of the basic rights of the Kashmiris. He regretted some attempts to equate the Kashmiris’ struggle with terrorism and emphasised that the Kashmiris were striving to achieve their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Aziz reiterated Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, moral and political support to the people of the Indian Occupied Kashmir in their just struggle for realisation of their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

The meeting stressed that the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Heads of states from the Muslim world shall be meeting at an important summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul on Thursday to devise a plan of action against terrorism and Islamophobia.

All is set to hold this summit under the slogan of “Unity and Solidarity for Peace and Justice”. Important leaders such as the King of Saudi Arabia, president of Pakistan and the president of Turkey are expected to attend the summit.

Deemed to be of utmost importance amidst strife and turmoil in the Muslim countries like Palestine, Libya, Syria, Karabakh, Yemen and other regions, the leaders will discuss the ‘Plan of Action’ to restore peace in the Muslim world in the next 10 years. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the leaders and the delegates in view of the strife in the Arab region.

Earlier, preparatory meetings were held to devise an agenda, which was fine-tuned at the meeting of the Council of Ministers. The agenda would be presented at the summit for adoption by the heads of states.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madni told a news conference the other day that the agenda items agreed by the Council of Ministers would be placed before the heads of states and governments for final approval. It would set the future course of action for “translating the words into actions”. “We are keen about the programme and the changing situation in the Muslim regions and shall try to take right steps to alleviate the sufferings of the Muslim world,” he told the media persons.