Snubbed by OIC on J&K, Pak threatens to revolt | India News – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: With the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) not acceding to Pakistan’s request for a meeting of foreign ministers on the Kashmir issue, Islamabad has threatened to break ranks with the organisation which calls itself the collective voice of the Muslim world, indicating the lack of traction over the changes in Jammu and Kashmir a year after they were implemented.
While calling for a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in keeping with Pakistan’s expectations, foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this week that Islamabad could look at seeking a separate meeting with Islamic countries which supported Pakistan on the issue. “If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir,” he said.
While there was limited resonance for Pakistan’s arguments even last year, this time the global preoccupation with Covid-19 and the concerns arising from China’s aggressive actions in its neighbourhood and its deepening confrontation with the US has meant that there is no mindspace for Islamabad’s bid to flog the Kashmir issue and the nullification of Article 370.
Except for Turkey, Pakistan has found little public support even from countries which it claims to have on its side. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the only leader to again express support for Pakistan’s position on Kashmir. There has also been scant support for Pakistan elsewhere, with a few routine statements emanating from Europe. Even US congressional committees, while noting the absence of normalcy in J&K, have acknowledged that there are serious security and counter-terrorism challenges.
India has described Turkey’s remarks as factually incorrect, biased and unwarranted. “We would urge the government of Turkey to get a proper understanding of the situation on the ground and refrain from interfering in matters internal to India,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
The main reason behind the OIC’s inaction is said to be Saudi Arabia’s reluctance to accept Pakistan’s request for the meeting. Riyadh’s support is crucial for any move at the OIC, which is dominated by Saudi and other Arab countries. Another key member, the UAE, has also been cold to Pakistan’s pleas.
During a virtual meeting of the OIC contact group on Jammu and Kashmir held “on the request of Pakistan” on June 22, Qureshi had urged the grouping to “step up its efforts” to resolve the Kashmir issue.