India Rejects OIC Kashmir Remarks, Urges Bloc to Counsel Pakistan on Terrorism
India has firmly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint communiqué issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group, calling them “unwarranted and factually incorrect.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the OIC has no locus standi to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India.
The response came after the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The group includes Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Niger. India reiterated that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country.
India Questions OIC's Position
New Delhi also questioned the credibility of the OIC over its repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir. The MEA said that continued endorsement of what it described as politically motivated narratives raises serious questions about the organisation's approach.
India's position has consistently been that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and that external organisations have no role in commenting on the country's territorial and constitutional affairs. The latest statement from New Delhi again underlined this position amid renewed diplomatic discussion of Kashmir at the UN.
Pakistan Raises Kashmir at OIC Meeting
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar used the OIC Contact Group meeting to urge member states to maintain a unified position on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations and other international platforms. He called for continued diplomatic efforts concerning the issue and reiterated Pakistan's stated position that it should be resolved through relevant UN Security Council resolutions and what Pakistan describes as the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Dar also raised concerns over India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and linked the water agreement to the broader India-Pakistan dispute. These remarks formed part of Pakistan's wider diplomatic campaign at the UN General Assembly, where Islamabad has continued to highlight both Kashmir and water-related issues.
India Turns Focus to Terrorism
In its response, New Delhi urged the OIC to focus on terrorism rather than providing a platform for Pakistan's allegations concerning Jammu and Kashmir. The MEA said the organisation would be better advised to counsel Pakistan to address the threat of terrorism emanating from territories under its control.
India's statement reflects a longstanding diplomatic position in which terrorism remains a central issue in its engagement with Pakistan. New Delhi has repeatedly called for action against terrorist networks and has maintained that cross-border terrorism remains a major obstacle to improved bilateral relations.
Kashmir Debate Expands at UNGA
The OIC meeting came at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was again being discussed at the UN General Assembly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to Kashmir in his UNGA address and called for disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir, to be addressed through dialogue within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
India has consistently objected to such third-party references and maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country. Erdoğan's latest remarks therefore added another dimension to the diplomatic exchanges surrounding Kashmir during the current UNGA session.
The MGMM Outlook
India has rejected the OIC Contact Group’s references to Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and that the OIC has no role in commenting on the country’s internal matters. New Delhi has also questioned the continued promotion of what it describes as politically motivated narratives and reiterated its position that such issues should not be internationalised.
The exchange also saw India call for greater attention to terrorism and urge the OIC to counsel Pakistan on addressing terrorism emanating from territories under its control. With Kashmir again being discussed during the UN General Assembly, India has reaffirmed its position while highlighting terrorism and security concerns as key issues in the India-Pakistan relationship.
(Sources: India Today, Hindustan Times, Economic Times)
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