India rejects statement by the General Secretariat of the OIC on Kashmir

Without specifically naming any country, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the OIC is acting at the ‘behest of a serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism.’

The remarks were an apparent reference to Pakistan, which India has often accused of raking up the Kashmir issue at the OIC.

On Tuesday, the OIC expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding what it described as ‘unilateral actions’ taken by India in August 2019, referring to the Indian government’s decision to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

It also reaffirmed ‘solidarity’ with the people of Jammu and Kashmir ‘in their quest for the right of self-determination’ and called on the world community to enhance its efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The General Secretariat of the OIC also reiterated its call to ‘reverse all illegal and unilateral measures taken since 5 August 2019 aimed at changing the internationally recognized disputed status’ of Kashmir.

Responding to the remarks, Bagchi said, ‘India rejects the statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on a judgement of the Indian Supreme Court. It is both ill informed and ill intended.’

He added, ‘That OIC does so at the behest of a serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism makes its action even more questionable. Such statements only undermine OIC’s credibility.’

India has said in the past that Jammu and Kashmir, which was divided into two union territories after the abrogation of article 370, is an ‘integral part of the country’ and ‘other nations have no say in the matter.’