Arindam Bagchi.
New Delhi: India strongly rejected the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s call for the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN security council resolutions, on Wednesday. This development comes in the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict that upheld the government’s 2019 move to abrogate the special status given to the erstwhile state.
Responding to the OIC's statement issued after the Supreme Court’s recent verdict supporting the government’s decision in August 2019 to revoke the special status of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 35A using the provisions of Article 370, the foreign ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, criticized the OIC’s statement, asserting that it undermines the credibility of the 57-member organization.
Without naming any country, Bagchi implied that the OIC is influenced by a nation with a track record of violating human rights and promoting cross-border terrorism – a reference widely interpreted as aimed at Pakistan. India has frequently accused Pakistan of bringing up the Kashmir matter within the OIC. Bagchi said, “India rejects the statement issued by the general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on a judgment of the Indian Supreme Court. It is both ill-informed and ill-intended.”
Highlighting the questionable nature of OIC’s actions, Bagchi emphasized, “That OIC does so at the behest of a serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism makes its action even more questionable. Such statements only undermine OIC’s credibility.”
Earlier, the OIC, in a statement, had expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s verdict, describing it as upholding “unilateral actions” taken by India in August 2019. The organization reiterated its call to reverse all measures aimed at changing the internationally recognized disputed status of Kashmir and reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir in their pursuit of the right to self-determination.
The OIC also urged the global community to intensify efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue in line with relevant UN security council resolutions.
India has consistently maintained that Jammu & Kashmir, reorganized into two Union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh – following the abrogation of its special status, is an integral part of the country, and external entities have no say on the issue.
