OIC voices concerns over use of cluster munitions by Indian forces

Muslim body reiterates its call upon international community to rise up to its responsibility

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday voiced concerns over deteriorating situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir including the use of banned cluster munitions by Indian forces on unarmed civilians across the Line of Control and the deployment of additional paramilitary forces.

#OIC General Secretariat is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the #Indian occupied #Jammu & #Kashmir including reports of deployment of additional paramilitary forces & use of banned cluster munition by Indian forces to target civilians https://t.co/IeG021wnns

— OIC (@OIC_OCI) August 4, 2019

The statement comes hours after Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged the forum to take notice of New Delhi’s increasing brutality against the citizens of the occupied valley.

"The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation  is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir," read an official statement.

The statement added that the general secretariat is saddened to learn about the civilian casualties resulting from ceasefire violations carried out by the Indian forces across the Line of Control and expressed solidarity with the people of IoK.

"The OIC reiterates its call upon the international community to rise up to its responsibility for the peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute," the statement further added.

The body of Muslim countries also urged to resolve the 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 Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army's media wing, had said on Saturday that the Indian troops used cluster munitions along the Line of Control to target the civilian population in blatant violation of the Geneva Convention and international laws.