OIC reiterates support for Kashmir right to self-determination

Turkey, April 13 (IANS) The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has reiterated its support for Jammu and Kashmir's right to self-determination.

In a meeting held here, on the sidelines of the 13th OIC Summit, the OIC contact group on Jammu and Kashmir voiced its continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir "in their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination" in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

"The principled position of OIC continued support to the Kashmiri people in their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination and underscored that the Contact Group had been constantly conveying the OIC's concerns to the international community regarding the flagrant human rights violations and abuse of the basic rights of the Kashmiris," the contact group said, according to a Pakistan foreign ministry statement.

Pakistan's National Security Advisor, Sartaj Aziz, led his country's delegation to the meeting, which was chaired by OIC Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Abdullah Al-Alim.

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey, senior representatives from Saudi Arabia and Niger attended the meeting.

Aziz reiterated "Pakistan will continue its diplomatic, moral and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for realisation of their right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions."

The group also "regretted some attempts to equate the Kashmiri struggle with terrorism, and emphasized that the Kashmiris were solely striving to achieve their inalienable right in accordance with relevant UN resolutions."

The OIC Secretary General's Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the establishment of a standing mechanism of OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) to monitor the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir which would present its report to the next session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

Al-Alim would also undertake a visit to Jammu and Kashmir shortly.

The Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir was formed in 1994 to coordinate the policy of the OIC on Jammu and Kashmir. Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are its members.