Organisation of Islamic Cooperation calls for 'restraint and de-escalation' in South Asia, says Pakistan foreign office

Islamabad: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday called for "restraint and de-escalation" in South Asia as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means, Pakistan's foreign office said. The OIC is a grouping of 57 countries, majority of which are Muslim. It has usually been supportive of Pakistan and, often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue.

Sushma Swaraj at the 16th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Russia-India-China. ANI

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC meeting on Friday. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite strong demand by Pakistan to rescind the invitation to Swaraj to address the grouping which was turned down by the host UAE, resulting in Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary.

On Saturday, the Pakistan foreign office said that the 46th session CFM concluded in Abu Dhabi with a resolution that "supported" Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. "In a resolution the OIC member states reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for the dream for peace in South Asia," it claimed. The resolution also "expressed deep concern" over the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, the foreign office claimed, adding that the resolution also reminded the international community of its obligation to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.

The foreign office said that in the context of current volatile situation in the region, the OIC member states adopted a new resolution sponsored by Pakistan "which expressed grave concern over the Indian violation of Pakistani airspace; affirmed Pakistan's right to self-defence; and urged India to refrain from the threat or use of force." This OIC resolution on regional peace and security in South Asia also welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's renewed offer of dialogue to India and the goodwill gesture of handing over the Indian pilot, the foreign office said.

The resolution called for "restraint and de-escalation" as well as the need to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means, it added. The OIC adopted two other resolutions sponsored by Pakistan on international disarmament and non-proliferation issues and reform of the UN Security Council.