The OIC Contact Group is concerned about the worsening circumstances in Kashmir.

Concern about the worsening situation in the Indian-occupied valley was voiced at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Kashmir, which was held on the margins of the UN General Assembly session.

The OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs chaired the meeting, which conducted a thorough analysis of the political and security circumstances in Indian-occupied Kashmir, as well as the deteriorating human rights situation, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.

The summit was attended by members of the Kashmiri people as well as representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Niger, and Azerbaijan.

Tariq Fatemi, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, denounced India’s attempts to bolster its unlawful occupation through brutality, demographic shifts, and harsh legislation.

According to him, the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict is essential to the long-term stability of South Asia.

Fatemi asked the OIC to put pressure on India to guarantee the release of political detainees and to stop its repression.

He reiterated Pakistan’s ongoing political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people and thanked the OIC and its member states for their unwavering support of their right to self-determination.

The OIC praised mediation efforts and hailed the recent truce during the meeting, but it also pointed out that the events that followed the Pahalgam attack make it abundantly evident that regional peace cannot be achieved without resolving the Kashmir issue. Additionally, it said that the peace in the region is under danger due to the careless remarks made by Indian politicians.

The OIC denounced the prohibitions on religious gatherings at Srinagar’s Eidgah and Jamia Mosque, as well as the imprisonment of thousands of human rights advocates and political dissidents.

Reiterating that elections in occupied Kashmir cannot be a replacement for the right to self-determination, the OIC denounced India’s actions on August 5, 2019, and the demographic shifts that followed.

The OIC also applauded the Secretary General’s Special Envoy’s trip to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.