JEDDAH – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned India’s violation of the Line of Control on Tuesday, urging both Pakistan and India to exercise restraint and work towards de-escalation.
“The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned this action against an OIC founding member state,” the Organisation stated in one of a series of tweets.
The #OIC condemned the #Indian incursion and aerial violation and dropping of four bombs today, 26 February 2019. It urged India and #Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid any steps that would endanger peace and security in the region. 2/
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) February 26, 2019
The OIC also called upon India and Pakistan to act responsibly and encouraged them to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis without resorting to use of force”.
The statement comes hours after the Pakistan Army revealed that the Indian Air Force violated Line of Control following which Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled and the Indian aircraft went back.
Indian Air Force also claimed to have targeted the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist camp though Pakistan denies any such attack.
The alleged strikes – which are still to be verified – have escalated tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours as Pakistan’s armed forces have announced that Pakistan will respond against Indian aggression in a befitting and surprising manner.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan convened a meeting of the National Security Committee in the aftermath of surgical strike reports and made it clear that Pakistan will respond to Indian aggression at time and place of its choosing.
The NSC meeting, chaired by the premier in the wake of India’s violation of the Line of Control (LoC), was attended by the top civil and military leadership, including Army Chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and ministers of defence and foreign affairs.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has also convened a meeting of National Command Authority (NCA) which deals with nuclear arsenals and their use.
OIC Contact Group Expresses Concerns
The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held an emergency meeting at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on Tuesday ahead of the 46thSession of the Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The meeting expressed deep concern over the heightened tension in the region and called for immediate de-escalation.
The meeting was chaired, on behalf of the Secretary-General by Assistant Secretary-General Amb Hameed A. Opeloyeru, and attended by Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Tehmina Janjua, and the Permanent Representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Niger as well as the President of Azad Jammu and KashmirMasood Khan.
In his opening remarks, speaking on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General strongly condemned the recent wave of repression, brutal killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians by the Indian occupied forces, frequent incidents of rape especially of minor girls. He reiterated OIC’s principled position on supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir in achieving their legitimate rights, including the right of self-determination. He also emphasized that conflict shall be resolved in accordance with the aspiration of the Kashmiri people and the OIC and United Nations resolutions.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary apprised the participants on the recent Indian threats to regional peace and security and continued Indian repression and recent escalation in atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir in their just struggle to achieve the inalienable right to self-determination. She recalled Pakistani Prime Minister’s concrete offer for dialogue to India.
The Contact Group appreciated Prime Minister of Pakistan’s offer for peace and dialogue to India to resolve all issues. The members of the Contact Group reiterated their continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They called on India to immediately stop repressive security operations against the people of Jammu and Kashmir, respect the fundamental and basic human rights and address the dispute in accordance with the relevant OIC and United Nations Security Council resolutions on the subject as well as the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, the principle of self-determination and human rights.
The Contact Group called on the OIC and the UN Secretaries General to use their good offices to put an end to the dangerous escalation by India, which threatens regional peace and security. It was underscored that priority should be given to peace and dialogue.
