ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the reaffirmation came during a meeting in New York between Ambassador Hameed Ajibaiye Opeloyeru, Permanent Observer of the OIC to the United Nations, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice and Sardar Taj Khan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Kashmir Mission USA.
During the meeting, Ambassador Opeloyeru reiterated the OIC’s long-standing commitment to supporting a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. He assured the delegation that their proposals would be conveyed to the OIC headquarters and taken up during the forthcoming meetings of the OIC Kashmir Contact Group in Iraq and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai briefed the OIC representative on the prevailing situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), expressing concern over the human rights conditions in the territory. He alleged that demographic changes threaten the identity of the Kashmiri people and highlighted restrictions on civil liberties, arbitrary detentions, and limits on political expression. He also claimed that advocacy for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir has increasingly come under legal restrictions.
Dr. Fai appreciated the role of the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) for consistently highlighting the human rights situation in Kashmir. He noted the Commission’s calls for the restoration of fundamental freedoms, repeal of restrictive laws, access for international fact-finding missions, and implementation of relevant UN resolutions concerning the right to self-determination. He urged the Commission to convene formal hearings on Kashmir and invite independent experts and Kashmiri representatives to testify.
Emphasizing that the Kashmir dispute remains one of the world’s longest unresolved conflicts, Dr. Fai called on the United Nations to complement its statements with more proactive engagement to uphold justice, human rights, and international law. He stressed that the international community should not remain indifferent to the situation and should play a greater role in promoting a peaceful resolution.
Sardar Taj Khan urged the OIC to raise the issue of Kashmiri political prisoners, including Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Sofi Fehmeeda, and Nahida Nasreen. He called for greater international attention to their cases and appealed for sustained diplomatic efforts to safeguard their rights.
The delegation expressed hope that the OIC would continue to play an active role in highlighting the Kashmir issue at international forums and advancing initiatives aimed at protecting human rights and promoting a peaceful settlement. They emphasized the importance of continued engagement by the OIC and the United Nations in addressing the longstanding dispute in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
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