Pakistan urges OIC to address India’s “provocative actions”

NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Asim Iftikhar, briefed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group of Ambassadors in New York, United States, on Wednesday regarding the escalating situation in South Asia.

During the briefing, he highlighted India’s “politically motivated, irresponsible, and highly provocative behaviour”, which he stated posed serious threats to regional peace and stability.

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The backdrop to the briefing includes an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir where gunmen killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. Without any proper proof, India accused Pakistan and expelled the Pakistani diplomats.

The hardliner, Hindu-nationalist government of Narendra Modi also suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a critical agreement that ensured proper sharing of water between the two populous nations.

In turn, Pakistan closed its airspace to India, suspended trade and the Simla Agreement. Pakistan called for an independent investigation into the attack, with the Information Minister revealing recently of a very real, imminent threat of Indian army attacking Pakistan.

During the OIC meeting, member-states expressed their “full support” and “solidarity” with the government and people of Pakistan, as per the Pakistan ambassador.

The member-states called for de-escalation of the conflict via diplomatic engagement and called for addressing the root causes of the conflict, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

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The OIC members stressed the importance of a ‘just’ settlement in accordance with the United Nations Security Council and the OIC resolutions.