SRINAGAR: India has rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in resolutions adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), accusing Pakistan of using the grouping to advance its political agenda and divert attention from its domestic problems.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the references to India as “malicious, biased, and false” and expressed disappointment over their inclusion in resolutions adopted at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Baghdad over the weekend.
The ministry alleged that Pakistan had orchestrated the references and criticised the OIC for allowing itself to be used to promote Islamabad’s position on Jammu and Kashmir.
Reiterating India’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the MEA said the OIC had no authority to comment on matters that New Delhi considers its internal affairs. It maintained that both Union Territories were integral parts of India and that political statements would not change their status.
The ministry also pointed to infrastructure development, tourism and improved connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, claiming that these initiatives had benefited the region’s population.
Contrasting the situation with Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the MEA accused Pakistani authorities of resorting to violence and repression against civilian protesters. It alleged that scores of people, including women and children, had been killed, and said restrictions on media coverage had failed to conceal what it described as serious human rights violations.
According to the ministry, the outstanding issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir were Pakistan’s withdrawal from territories under its occupation and an end to its alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
India also criticised other references in the OIC resolutions, including those concerning Islamophobia, alleging that they diverted attention from Pakistan’s record on minority rights, sectarian violence, governance and political instability.
Questioning the organisation’s credibility, the MEA said the OIC’s repeated endorsement of what India described as anti-India narratives raised concerns about its integrity.
The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers met in Baghdad on Saturday and Sunday, with the resolutions adopted at the meeting containing references to India and Jammu and Kashmir.
India has consistently opposed OIC statements on Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the issue falls within its domestic jurisdiction, while Pakistan continues to raise it at international forums.
