Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday thanked the OIC for effectively articulating the voice of the Muslim world in support of Kashmiris and drawing the world’s attention at the UN to the plight of the people of the Muslim majority region facing brutal use of force at the hands of the Indian security forces. 

In his keynote address to the OIC Contact Group ambassadors, Qureshi commended the New York Chapter of the Contact Group in this regard. According to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, “Ambassadors of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir met in New York on 5 February 2021 to commemorate the Kashmir Solidarity Day. Those attended, included the Permanent Representatives of Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as well as the OIC Observer Mission in New York.

“In his keynote address (delivered through a recorded video message) to the OIC Contact Group Ambassadors, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked the OIC for effectively articulating the voice of the Islamic Ummah in solidarity and support with the Kashmiris. He commended the New York Chapter of the Contact Group for its role in drawing attention to the plight of the Kashmiris at the UN.

“Highlighting grave concerns over Indian moves in IIOJK which, inter alia, entail changing the demographic structure of the occupied territory, the Foreign Minister called on India to rescind its illegal and unilateral actions in IIOJK; halt its egregious human rights violations; provide access to human rights organizations, including the UN fact finding mission and OIC IPHRC; and seek a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

“The OIC Contact Group Ambassadors reiterated OIC’s unwavering support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people.”