ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have agreed that under the umbrella of the 57-member Islamic bloc, they must build an effective counter-narrative against extremism and terrorism.
“We agreed that the platform of the OIC must be used to build a narrative against extremism and terrorism,” the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told media about his talks with the OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani in a joint press conference in Islamabad on Saturday.
The adviser said that during the meeting, they stressed the need of intensifying cooperation among the OIC countries and constructive exchange of ideas to address the increasing trends of Islamophobia and defamation of religions.
Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan as a founding member of the OIC has always contributed towards strengthening the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Muslim countries.
“We remain committed to working with the OIC for advancing all the legitimate causes of the Muslim Ummah, including the right of self-determination of the peoples of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The press conference followed a meeting between the adviser and the OIC secretary general in which they held discussions focusing on a number of challenges facing the Muslim world, particularly on the situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and peace in Afghanistan.
“We exchanged views on further enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and OIC on the matters of interest to the Muslim Ummah. I took the opportunity to brief Mr. Madani on the regional situation, specially the current situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK),” the adviser told media about his meeting with the OIC secretary general.
The adviser said that the use of lethal force by the Indian occupation forces in the IOK against the defenseless Kashmiris, who are protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, is deplorable. He said that in the last 40 days, more than 80 Kashmiris have been martyred, 6000 injured and over a hundred have lost their eyesight due to pellet guns firing.
The foreign affairs adviser said that the expressed gratitude to the OIC secretary general for the consistent support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination.
“Peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, which is in line with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, is an imperative for the regional peace and stability,” Sartaj Aziz said.
Sartaj Aziz said that the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir will be meeting again in September 2016, during the General Assembly Session in New York in the face of the gross violations of human rights in IOK.
Moreover, Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan wanted prevalence of lasting peace in Afghanistan. He said that the OIC has an important role in support of peace efforts in Afghanistan.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Secretary General in this regard,” he added.
