An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Kashmir-focused wing has been called today after the Indian government rushed through a presidential decree earlier to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution which granted special status to Indian-occupied Kashmir, APA reports citing Geo TV.
The session which will be held in Jeddah will be attended by representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other member countries.
On Monday, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the resolution to scarp Article 370 in Rajya Sabha, which revoked the special status granted to occupied Kashmir and made the state a Union Territory with the legislature. The announcement sparked chaotic scenes in the Indian parliament, with opposition politicians shouting protests, and the Congress describing the decision as a "catastrophic step".
The latest development was strongly condemned by Pakistani politicians. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there was a threat of genocide and ethnic cleansing in occupied Kashmir after India revoked Article 370. He added that Pakistan would request and appeal to the United Nations, OIC, friendly countries and human rights organisations not to remain silent on the issue.
Earlier, the OIC had said it was deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in IoK including reports of deployment of additional paramilitary forces and use of banned cluster munition by the Indian forces to target civilians.
The OIC had reiterated its call upon the international community to rise up to its responsibility for the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Pakistani counterpart discussed India’s scrapping of Kashmir’s special status Monday, APA reports citing Anadolu Agency.
Prime Minister Imran Khan phoned Erdogan to inform him about India’s latest move, said the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate. Erdogan called on Pakistan and India to strengthen the dialogue process, the statement added.
“India’s illegal action of modifying the special status of Indian occupied Kashmir will have serious implications for regional peace and security,” Khan said, according to a statement by his office. Khan “reiterated that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic, moral and political support to the just cause of the Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination as enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the statement added.
Erdogan also shared his concerns over the situation and assured Khan of Turkey’s “steadfast support in this regard”.
Note that India on Monday scrapped the special status granted to the country’s only Muslim-majority state which allowed it autonomy in exchange for joining the Indian union after independence in 1947.
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