ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a telephone conversation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen on Thursday, and discussed a wide range of issues related to the Muslim Ummah.
Talking to the OIC secretary general, the foreign minister highlighted that as a founding member of the Organization, Pakistan attaches utmost importance to the OIC and the issues of concern to the Muslim world.
The foreign minister noted the rise in incidents of Islamophobia and hate speech against Muslims including desecration of the Holy Quran and reprinting of caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), which had seriously hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world.
Qureshi highlighted the importance of collective endeavours to combat the scourge of Islamophobia.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi apprised the OIC secretary general of the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019.
The foreign minister highlighted that India has promulgated new domicile rules and introduced amendments in landownership laws to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, which is a clear violation of the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions and international law.
The minister said that besides continued lockdown, military siege and communication blackout for over one year, occupation forces have intensified repression of the Kashmiri population through extra-judicial killings in fake “encounters” and “collective punishment” for Kashmiri communities and neighbourhoods.
The foreign minister appreciated the OIC’s consistent support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Both the foreign minister and the secretary general agreed to remain in touch regarding matters related to the OIC and the Muslim Ummah.
