OIC calls for peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation today appealed to India and Pakistan for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through a sustained dialogue process, saying “denial of self-determination” to Kashmiris continues to “stain” the collective conscience of the international community.

“The OIC has repeatedly called for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute and believes that a just and durable solution, in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people, must be sought through a sustained dialogue process,” OIC Secretary General Iyad bin Amin Madani said at a high-level segment of the UNHRC’s 28th session.

Speaking in the context of the right to self- determination, Saudi leader Madani said, “Denial of self-determination is a denial that leads to the violation of all other rights and long-standing cases of denial of this right of the Palestinian and Kashmiri people continue to stain the collective conscience of the international community.”

The OIC is the 57-member Organisation of Islamic countries, including Pakistan.

The OIC Secretary General’s statement came as Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today arrived in Islamabad as part of his “SAARC yatra” and held talks with his counterpart Aizaz Chaudhary, seven months after India had cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks.