Foreign ministers of Islamic countries have voiced concern over the indiscriminate use of force by security forces against unarmed civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir, and urged the international community to help settle the Indo-Pakistan dispute.
A communiqué released after the ministerial-level meeting of member states of Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Friday called for "full respect" for the Kashmiri people's human rights and providing relief and comfort to them. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the issue at the daylong OIC annual co-ordination meeting focusing on recent events that have seen more than 100 Kashmiri civilians demanding an end to New Delhi's rule gunned down by Indian security forces.
The communiqué said, "The meeting reaffirmed its principled support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for realisation of their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people."
It emphasised the need for full respect of human rights as well as importance of taking all requisite steps to provide relief and comfort to the Kashmiris. It further called upon India to allow international human rights groups and humanitarian organisations to visit Jammu and Kashmir.
"The meeting expressed concern at the recent and ongoing indiscriminate use of force and gross violations of human rights committed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) by Indian security forces which have resulted in the killing of scores of innocent and unarmed civilians as well as injuries to hundreds of others including women, children and elderly.
"The meeting commended efforts of Pakistan and its readiness to engage with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir dispute and urged the international community to play its due role to settle this long standing dispute on UN agenda for the overall improvement of relations between Pakistan and India as well as to promote regional peace and stability. "Apart from Kashmir, the meeting discussed many other issues of concern to the Islamic world. The meeting adopted following positions on some of the key topics:
It condemned Israel's continued imposition of collective punishment upon Palestinian people, including in particular the illegal blockade against the Gaza Strip, which has gravely impacted humanitarian conditions. Demanded that Israel immediately cease its unlawful collective punishment of the Palestinian people, including by completely lifting its blockade of the Gaza Strip. Deeply regretted and strongly condemned the heinous May 31 Israeli military aggression in international waters against the Gaza-bound convoy of humanitarian assistance 'Freedom Flotilla', and called for a prompt, credible, independent, impartial and transparent international investigation.
Called for intensification of efforts by international community, including the Quartet and particularly by the Security Council, to promote the resumption and early conclusion of peace process negotiations aimed at ending the occupation of the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
Strongly condemned Israel's policy of refuswith Security Council resolution 497 (1981) concerning the occupied Syrian Golan and its policies of annexation, building of colonial settlements, confiscation of land, diversion of water sources and imposition of Israel nationality upon Syrian citizens. Demanded Israel to completely withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan.
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