India has firmly rejected references to the country in a joint communiqué issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, describing them as “unwarranted and factually incorrect.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the OIC has no locus standi to comment on matters that India considers strictly internal.
The statement came after an OIC Contact Group meeting on Jammu and Kashmir was held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar participated in the meeting and urged OIC member states to maintain a coordinated position on Jammu and Kashmir at international forums.
New Delhi Rejects OIC References to Jammu and Kashmir
In its response, the MEA categorically dismissed the references made to India in the OIC Contact Group’s communiqué. New Delhi reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India.
The Ministry also objected to what it described as repeated politically motivated narratives concerning the region. According to the MEA, continued repetition of such positions does not alter India’s stated position on the territorial status of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
New Delhi further questioned the credibility of the OIC, arguing that its repeated endorsement of narratives that New Delhi considers politically motivated raises concerns about the organisation’s approach to the issue.
The latest exchange reflects the longstanding disagreement between India and the OIC over the organisation’s references to Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC has continued to raise the issue at international platforms, while India has consistently rejected what it describes as external intervention in matters concerning the region.
Pakistan Raises Kashmir Issue at OIC Meeting
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Ishaq Dar addressed the ministerial meeting of the OIC Contact Group in New York. According to Pakistan’s account, Dar called on OIC members to maintain a unified position on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations and other international forums.
Pakistan also reiterated its position that the Jammu and Kashmir issue should be addressed through what it described as a peaceful settlement based on relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
These positions differ fundamentally from India’s stated position. New Delhi maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and rejects internationalisation of the issue.
MEA Questions OIC’s Role and Credibility
The Indian government’s response went beyond rejecting the communiqué’s references. The MEA questioned whether the OIC should comment on matters that New Delhi regards as internal.
The ministry argued that instead of providing a platform for Pakistan to raise what New Delhi called “fabricated and motivated propaganda,” the OIC should address concerns relating to terrorism.
The MEA alleged that Pakistan has a documented record of supporting and sponsoring terrorism and called on the organisation to encourage Islamabad to address threats emanating from territories under its control. These are assertions made by the Indian government and form part of New Delhi’s broader diplomatic position toward Pakistan.
Pakistan has consistently rejected Indian allegations concerning its support for terrorism and disputes India’s characterisation of the Kashmir issue.
Exchange Comes During UN General Assembly Session
The diplomatic exchange comes as world leaders and senior officials gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly session. The timing has once again brought India-Pakistan differences over Jammu and Kashmir into focus at an international forum.
The OIC Contact Group’s meeting and India’s subsequent response underline the continuing diplomatic disagreement between New Delhi, Islamabad and the OIC over how Jammu and Kashmir should be discussed internationally.
India’s latest statement reinforces its established position that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of the country, while Pakistan continues to raise the issue through international forums. The OIC, meanwhile, maintains its own position on the matter.
The latest development therefore adds another chapter to the continuing diplomatic exchanges surrounding Jammu and Kashmir, with both New Delhi and Islamabad presenting sharply different positions before international audiences.
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