ISLAMABAD: In a recent roundtable discussion held in Islamabad, speakers expressed their gratitude for the unwavering support extended by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to the Kashmir cause.
The event, organized by the India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), brought together prominent individuals to shed light on the longstanding issue.
Ambassador Yousef Aldobeay, the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General for Jammu and Kashmir and Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, was a key participant. He joined a distinguished group that included Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors ISSI Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Director ISC Dr Khurram Abbas, APHC-AJK leaders Ghulam Muhammad Safi and Altaf Hussain Wani, Sheikh Abdul Mateen, former Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ms. Farzana Yaqoob, former Ambassador of Pakistan and Vice Chairman of Academics IPS Syed Abrar Hussain, Chairman of Legal Forum for Kashmir Advocate Nasir Qadri, as well as academics and young university students.
During the event, Dr. Khurram Abbas highlighted the OIC’s consistent support for Pakistan’s stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He emphasized that the OIC has consistently advocated for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored Pakistan’s crucial role as a founding member of the OIC and expressed concern over the current situation in Palestine and Kashmir. He emphasized that both issues were among the oldest disputes on the UN Security Council’s agenda, focusing on the right to self-determination for the affected populations. He urged the OIC to implement its Plan of Action on Jammu and Kashmir adopted during the 48th Council of Foreign Ministers in March 2022 and relevant resolutions.
Special Envoy Ambassador Yousef Aldobeay stressed the urgent need to raise awareness about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, a matter of concern for Muslims worldwide. He reiterated the OIC’s unwavering support for the Kashmir cause and called for the reversal of India’s actions in the occupied territory.
The roundtable participants shared insights across various dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, including historical, legal, human rights, humanitarian, peace, and security aspects. They highlighted Indian atrocities and the impact of human rights abuses and illegal detentions on affected families and communities.
Participants emphasized the OIC’s role in advocating for the alleviation of the sufferings of the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). They presented specific recommendations to advance the Kashmir cause in the political, diplomatic, and legal domains, underlining the importance of proactive engagement with the UN to realize the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Chairman Board of Governors ISSI Ambassador Khalid Mahmood lauded the OIC’s enduring support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The roundtable discussions underscored the collective determination to pursue justice and advocate for the rights of the Kashmiri people on various international platforms.
