OIC Contact Group on Kashmir meets amid PM’s address at UN

While gathering on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York, the members stressed that the Kashmir issue must resolve now.

The OIC group members, led by OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani, vow to remain the voice of the Kashmiri people at every international platform until their freedom and beyond.

Senior representatives from Pakistan, Niger, Saudi Arabia, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Sardar Masood Khan also attended the meet.

Expressing concerns over the violation of basic human rights in the Indian-held Kashmir, the OIC Secretary General called for an immediate end to the Indian oppression and atrocities in the valley.

Also Read: UK must convince India to stop violence in held Kashmir, says PM

OIC urged Narendra Modi’s government in India for a peaceful settlement of the dispute, as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

More than 100 Kashmiris have lost their lives and thousands of others injured during clashes between Indian forces and demonstrations.

While due to a deliberate use of pellet guns by Indian forces in Kashmir, more than 150 civilians have become blind, leaving another 350 with serious eye injuries.

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey expressed their concerns over the deteriorating situation in the held valley.

Emphasising the urgency of resolving Kashmir dispute, Turkey’s Foreign Minister said peace in the region was linked with Kashmir.

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan said that the OIC must come up with new strategies to highlight human rights violations happening in held Kashmir.

The members in the meeting also supported the idea of asking the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a ‘Fact Finding Mission’ to Kashmir.

The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan gave a detailed overview of the situation in the held Kashmir. Meanwhile, a memorandum was also presented to the OIC Secretary General.