New York: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group has warned that peace and stability in South Asia will remain elusive unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved through genuine dialogue.
Meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the group said India’s policies in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are not only violating human rights but also threatening broader regional security.
The group met on Tuesday with participants stressing that regional peace cannot be achieved without addressing Kashmir.
Chaired by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Yousef M. Al-Dobeay, the meeting was attended by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Niger and Azerbaijan. Delegates voiced alarm at the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since August 2019, citing arbitrary arrests, suppression of dissent and demographic changes.
Pakistan calls for international action
Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi, thanked OIC members for their “steadfast support” and urged stronger pressure on India to end repression, free political prisoners and repeal draconian laws. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, but stressed it can only be achieved if Kashmiris are allowed to determine their future under UN resolutions.
The Contact Group reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir remains a vital priority on the OIC agenda. Member states called for renewed global efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully, insisting that without justice for Kashmiris, South Asia risks continued instability.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint communique demanding an end to rights violations and reaffirming the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination.
