OIC expresses 'deep concern' over India's delimitation exercise in occupied Kashmir

[MenInG]

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday expressed "deep concern" over India's attempts to redraw the electoral boundaries of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), altering the demographic structure of the territory and violating the rights of the Kashmiri people.

In a statement shared on Twitter, the OIC said the delimitation exercises were in direct contravention of the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

"Referring to the long-standing and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and relevant decisions of the Islamic Summit and OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, the General Secretariat reiterates its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just quest for the right of self-determination, in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions," the statement said.

The OIC also called on the international community, particularly the UNSC, to take immediate cognizance of the "grave implications of such 'delimitation' exercises".

Earlier this month, New Delhi issued a new list of redrawn political constituencies for IOK, giving greater representation to the Muslim-majority region’s Hindu areas and paving the way for fresh elections.

In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government broke up the occupied territory into two federal territories as part of a move to tighten its grip over the region. The occupied region originally comprised the mainly Muslim Kashmir Valley, the Hindu-dominated Jammu region, and the remote Buddhist enclave of Ladakh.

However, earlier this month, the Indian government said a delimitation commission had finalised 90 assembly constituencies for the IOK, excluding Ladakh, with 43 seats for Jammu and 47 for Kashmir. Earlier, Jammu had 37 seats and the Kashmir valley had 46.

The delimitation commission claimed it had been difficult to accommodate competing claims from various sides, citing in a statement the region’s "peculiar geo-cultural landscape".

The statement from the OIC also comes days after the organisation's Independent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) issued a strong condemnation against the delimitation exercise. The OIC's human rights body termed India's move a violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws.

Dawn

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: India On Monday hit out at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its "unwarranted" comments on the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are dismayed that the OIC secretariat has once again made unwarranted comments on the internal affairs of India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

"As in the past, the Government of India categorically rejects the assertions made by the OIC secretariat on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India," he said.

The delimitation commission, tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, notified its final report earlier this month.

"The OIC should refrain from carrying out its communal agenda vis-a-vis India at the behest of one country," the Ministry spokesperson said in an oblique reference to Pakistan.

The completion of the delimitation exercise paves the way for holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The former state is without an elected government since June 2018.

Of the 90 assembly constituencies, 43 will be part of the Jammu region and 47 for Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir have been treated as a single entity for the purposes of delimitation. The number of total assembly seats in Jammu has risen from 37 to 43 assembly seats.

NDTV

 

[Clueless]

An organization supposedly for the Muslims all over the world, Denies a seat to 20 crore Muslims of India but gets to speak on behalf of them. Ironic!!

 

[sweep_shot]

An organization supposedly for the Muslims all over the world, Denies a seat to 20 crore Muslims of India but gets to speak on behalf of them. Ironic!!

Not giving a seat to India is reasonable.

India is a Hindu-majority state and thus shouldn't be part of a Muslim alliance.

Having said that, Indian Muslims (along with Muslim minorities in other countries) may collectively get represented by a distinct representative.

 

[sweep_shot]

Good to see OIC is at least saying something instead of ignoring the Kashmir situation.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

An organization supposedly for the Muslims all over the world, Denies a seat to 20 crore Muslims of India but gets to speak on behalf of them. Ironic!!

What does the abbreviation OIC stand for?

 

[Clueless]

Not giving a seat to India is reasonable.

India is a Hindu-majority state and thus shouldn't be part of a Muslim alliance.

Having said that, Indian Muslims (along with Muslim minorities in other countries) may collectively get represented by a distinct representative.

Potato Tomato
No body takes OIC seriously, even the Islamic countries. Has negligible presence in any discourse at global level. Heck, cant even be a forum to help resolve disputes among its own members.

PS: Most of The Islamic countries have no issues with India but Pakistan.

 

[sweep_shot]

Potato Tomato
No body takes OIC seriously, even the Islamic countries. Has negligible presence in any discourse at global level. Heck, cant even be a forum to help resolve disputes among its own members.

PS: Most of The Islamic countries have no issues with India but Pakistan.

OIC is not a serious organization. I agree. It has been useless just like UN.

Having said that, there's a difference between Muslim rulers and regular Muslim people. Most modern Muslim rulers are weak, selfish, and submissive. They may not care much about Kashmir issue but regular Muslims seem to care.

 

[Clueless]

OIC is not a serious organization. I agree. It has been useless just like UN.

Having said that, there's a difference between Muslim rulers and regular Muslim people. Most modern Muslim rulers are weak, selfish, and submissive. They may not care much about Kashmir issue but regular Muslims seem to care.

Only Pakistanis care about Kashmir,
Hardly any Muslims anywhere else, care about the so called Kashmir cause.
Some of the sects of Islam live far better lives in India than the systemic discrimination they experience in Pakistan.

As for anyone else, the hypocrisy of Pakistan with regards to Kashmir and Uighars in Xinjian is not lost on other Islamic nations. You might try to simply ignore it, for the neutral observer it is crystal clear.
g

 

[MenInG]

Only Pakistanis care about Kashmir,
Hardly any Muslims anywhere else, care about the so called Kashmir cause.
Some of the sects of Islam live far better lives in India than the systemic discrimination they experience in Pakistan.

As for anyone else, the hypocrisy of Pakistan with regards to Kashmir and Uighars in Xinjian is not lost on other Islamic nations. You might try to simply ignore it, for the neutral observer it is crystal clear.
g

Think the thousands who have been slaughtered by your army in that state may beg to differ.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Think the thousands who have been slaughtered by your army in that state may beg to differ.

India only claims to have killed Terrorists. Some innocent bystanders may have died too.

 

[Clueless]

Think the thousands who have been slaughtered by your army in that state may beg to differ.

Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits dragged out of their own homes and killed in broad daylight might also beg to differ with your POV.

 

[MenInG]

Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits dragged out of their own homes and killed in broad daylight might also beg to differ with your POV.

If you recall, you stated that no one cares about Kashmir.

The Pandits issues is not being discussed here.

 

[MenInG]

India only claims to have killed Terrorists. Some innocent bystanders may have died too.

That's a lot of terrorists and bystanders.

Please don't come on this forum to insult our intelligence.

Stick to the topic of this thread and we will be fine.

 

[Clueless]

That's a lot of terrorists and bystanders.

Please don't come on this forum to insult our intelligence.

Stick to the topic of this thread and we will be fine.

Plz read the article and what the number is about before quoting it. This includes Indian army personnel deaths and also the losses of innocent civilians butchered by Lashkar, Jaish etc.

 

[MenInG]

Plz read the article and what the number is about before quoting it. This includes Indian army personnel deaths and also the losses of innocent civilians butchered by Lashkar, Jaish etc.

So in your esteemed opinion 48k people dead does not make the Kashmir issue something you would care about?

 

[Clueless]

So in your esteemed opinion 48k people dead does not make the Kashmir issue something you would care about?

I just pointed at the hypocrisy of it, that's all. Are we side stepping that you intrepreted the numbers in an entirely different fashion. People around the world are self centered. Kashmir is close to Pakistan's heart and hence you talk a lot about. But plight of Uighars is an inconvenient topic.

Regarding OIC:
1. It has absolutely zero political impact anywhere even with Islamic countries let alone in global geo politics
2. Even at a forum, that is nothing more than lip service, Pakistan has been struggling to get its narrative stated.

As for my "esteemed opinion" when you are counting thousands of innocent civilians butchered by Kashmiri mujahedeen's as victims as Indian military, we have kind of departed from factual discussion.

 

[MenInG]

I just pointed at the hypocrisy of it, that's all. Are we side stepping that you intrepreted the numbers in an entirely different fashion. People around the world are self centered. Kashmir is close to Pakistan's heart and hence you talk a lot about. But plight of Uighars is an inconvenient topic.

Regarding OIC:
1. It has absolutely zero political impact anywhere even with Islamic countries let alone in global geo politics
2. Even at a forum, that is nothing more than lip service, Pakistan has been struggling to get its narrative stated.

As for my "esteemed opinion" when you are counting thousands of innocent civilians butchered by Kashmiri mujahedeen's as victims as Indian military, we have kind of departed from factual discussion.

You started off by saying Kashmir was an issue no one cared about, I told you it mattered due to number of deaths. Case closed - move on .

 

[cric64]

After abrogation of 370 and now delimitation. Great job by the ruling govt. Great times ahead for Jammu and Kashmir. OIC is unhappy means BJP has done something good.

 

[daytrader]

India must reverse all illegal measures, says OIC group

NEW YORK: The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations demanded on Wednesday that India must reverse all illegal and unilateral measures it took on or after Aug 5, 2019.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha chaired the meeting. On August 5, 2019, India forcibly annexed illegally occupied territories of Jammu and Kashmir, rescinding a special status granted by the Indian constitution.

The group met in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and issued a joint communique, condemning the Indian occupation.

The statement included a set of demands, urging India to: “Stop the gross, systematic, and widespread human rights abuses in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, halt and reverse the illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory including the construction of settler colonies, land confiscation, home demolitions and disruption of the livelihoods of the people of the IIOJK.

“Allow unrestricted access to UN Special procedures, international media and independent observers to visit occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and take concrete and meaningful steps for full implementation of UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.”

The group reiterated the call on the international community to hold India accountable for the heinous crimes being committed by the Indian forces in the IIOJK.

It also urged the OIC secretary general to continue to monitor the implementation of the action plan on Jammu and Kashmir agreed during the last meeting of the OIC Contact Group on March 22, 2022, in Islamabad and present a report on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the next meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

The group asked the secretary general to transmit a copy of this joint communique to the UN secretary general and President of the UN Security Council.

It requested the OIC Observer Mission in New York and Geneva to send a copy of this communiqué to all member states, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.

The meeting heard a report on the situation in the occupied Kashmir from the OIC secretary general while Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, other member states of the Contact Group and representatives of the Kashmiri people briefed the participants on recent developments.

The meeting reaffirmed the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the recognised OIC position and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

It also reaffirmed the principle of right to self-determination enshrined in the UNSC resolutions that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people, expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite, conducted under UN auspices.

The group acknowledged that by its Resolutions 91 (1951), 122 (1957) and 123 (1957), the Security Council reaffirmed that attempt by the parties concerned to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir, or any part thereof, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the principle of a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.

The group recalled the statement issued by the UN secretary general on Aug 8, 2019, affirming that the position of the United Nations on Jammu and Kashmir region is governed by the UN Charter and applicable UN Security Council Resolutions.

Welcoming the three meetings of the UN Security Council to consider the situation in Jammu and Kashmir dated Aug 16, 2019; January 15, 2020, and August 05, 2020, the group unequivocally rejected the unilateral Indian actions of August 05, 2019, as inconsistent with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

DAWN

 

[ex-q-zit]

Islamic Nations' Group Has "Already Lost Credibility": India On PoK Visit

India on Tuesday strongly condemned the visit of the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and for his comments on Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the grouping has no locus standi in matters related to the region.

In a sharp reaction to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha's trip to PoK, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said "Any attempt of interference and meddling in India's internal affairs by OIC and its secretary general is completely unacceptable." He said the OIC has already lost its "credibility" by taking a "blatantly communal, partisan and factually incorrect approach" to the issues.

Taha was on a three-day visit to Pakistan from December 10-12.

"We strongly condemn the visit of the OIC secretary general to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and his comments on J&K during his visit to Pakistan. Let me reiterate that OIC has no locus standi in matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India," Bagchi said.

He was responding to media queries on the visit of the OIC official to the PoK.

"The OIC has already lost its credibility by taking a blatantly communal, partisan and factually incorrect approach to issues. Its secretary-general has unfortunately become a mouthpiece of Pakistan," Bagchi said "We hope that he would refrain from becoming a partner in carrying out the nefarious agenda of Pakistan of promoting cross-border terrorism into India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

A statement by the OIC said Taha briefed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his diplomatic efforts on the question of Jammu and Kashmir.

The OIC is a grouping of Muslim-majority nations.

NDTV