ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The OIC Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Ambassador Yousef M. Al Dobeay has assured that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will play its due role for the rights of people of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K).
In a meeting held with the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Tuesday in which they discussed India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5 last year in contravention of the resolutions of the United Nations and OIC, the OIC special envoy expressed concern on the grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
The foreign minister said that gross human rights violations continue in IOJ&K by India. He said that the statements of the UN Secretary General António Guterres during his visit to Pakistan are clear proof that Kashmir is not an internal issue of India.
Qureshi urged all relevant institutions of the world to play an active role in view of the situation in Occupied Kashmir. He emphasized to resolve the Kashmir issue in the light of UN resolutions for peace and security in the region.
Later addressing a Joint Press Conference along with Yousef M. Al Dobeay, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the situation of Indian Occupied Kashmir has become critical with lockdown continuing for the last seven months.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Indian steps pose a serious threat to peace and security in the region, an example of which was manifested in February 2019 when both India and Pakistan came to the brink of war.
The minister said that the people of Pakistan have high hopes attached to the OIC as it has always raised its voice for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
In his remarks, the Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Yousef M. Al Dobeay said that the OIC has always strongly supported the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said that the issue of Kashmir is very close to our heart and all members are on the same page regarding its resolution.
Yousef M. Al Dobeay said that the resolution of both Kashmir and Palestine issues stand at the top of the agenda of OIC. He said that the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir was established in 1994 and since then it has actively raised the issue time and again.
Al Dobeay said that a formal session of the OIC was convened on Pakistan’s request after removal of the special status of Occupied Kashmir by India on August 5 last year. He said that a detailed report on the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir will be presented to the office of secretary general upon his return.