OIC contact group reaffirms its support to the Kashmir cause

Islamabad: The Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir of the Organization of Islamic Conference met on the sidelines of the 12th Islamic Summit Conference in Cairo on 5 February 2013. The meeting coincided with the Kashmir Solidarity Day (5 February) on which the people of Pakistan express their solidarity with the Kashmiris, says a press release received here today from Cairo.

The express their solidarity with the Kashmiris and OIC Secretary General, Mr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. It was also attended by high ranking officials of the Contact Group members i.e Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Niger. The representative of Egypt being the host of the Summit also participated.
The True Representatives of the Kashmiri people, including Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Representative of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Ghulam Mohammad Safi, also attended the meeting.

The OIC Secretary General reaffirmed OIC’s commitment and support to the Kashmiri struggle for their right to self determination, as enshrined in the UN Security Council resolutions. The OIC Secretary General said that soon a joint team of OIC with representation from IDB, Islamic Solidarity Fund and ISESCO, led by Special Representative of OIC Secretary General on Kashmir Ambassador Alim, will visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir to assess their needs and find more practical and effective measures to help the people of Kashmir. The Secretary General also shared with the meeting OIC’s intention to call a meeting of Kashmiri representatives to look at making OIC’s role more effective.

The representatives of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Niger reiterated their support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

In her address to the Contact Group, Foreign Minister, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar said that Pakistan seeks to resolve the Kashmir dispute on the basis of UN resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. She said that the Government of Pakistan has entered into dialogue process with India and wants to have meaningful and result-oriented dialogue for the resolution of this longstanding dispute. She also underscored the need to stop human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir and also requested the Secretary General to compile a report on these violations.
The True Representatives of the Kashmiri People gave an update on the latest situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir. The President of AJK, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, spoke in particular about the human rights violations that continue unabated by the Indian security forces. The True Representatives also presented a Memorandum to the Secretary General which contained proposals for both the OIC member states as well as OIC Secretary General to peacefully resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

The Contact Group decided to invite Azerbaijan to join the Group and attend the future meetings of the Contact Group.
The Contact Group adopted a Report and a Declaration on Jammu and Kashmir to be presented to the OIC Summit.

Later on, the Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar met her Iranian counterpart Mr. Ali Akbar Salehi on the sideline of the 12th OIC Summit. Both the leaders discussed the matters of mutual interests. Current situation of Syria and Afghanistan also came under discussion.