Resolving Kashmir, Palestine stressed

Mamnoon calls for coordinated efforts to eliminate terrorism

ISTANBUL:

President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said the resolution of the longstanding disputes of Kashmir and Palestine is critical for countering extremism and terrorism.

Addressing the 13th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Istanbul, Mamnoon stressed upon coordinated efforts by the Islamic world to eliminate terrorism, adding that terrorism is a global issue that should not be bracketed with any religion.

“The recent tragic incidents from Brussels to Lahore and from Paris to Ankara, have once again reminded us that terrorism and violent extremism are a global phenomenon, not confined to any country or region.”

He added that terrorism is a big threat for the Muslim world and those who shed blood in the name of religion would not be forgiven.

“It is unfortunate that from amongst us, some dark forces harbouring detestable notions, are trampling on fundamental human values. Their brutality and savagery is repelling. Our hearts bleed when they seek to justify their brutality in the name of our noble religion,” he said in a reference to Da’ish. He called for unity to confront the challenges facing the Muslim world.

Erdogan pleads for unity

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the dozens of heads of state and government gathered for the summit to end sectarian divisions in the Muslim world and fight terror together.

“I believe the greatest challenge we need to surmount is sectarianism,” Erdogan said in his opening speech referring to the deep divisions in places such as Syria and Yemen where Shias -- led by Iran – have been pitted against Saudi Arabia.

“We should be uniting. Out of the conflicts, the tyranny, only the Muslims suffer,” he said, adding the summit meeting could be a “turning point” for the whole Islamic world.

He said that the OIC had accepted a Turkish proposal to set up a multinational police coordination centre for Islamic states to fight militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2016.