IIOJK, Palestine issues UN’s ‘unfinished agenda’

Bilawal, OIC’s Taha discuss Islamophobia, Afghan humanitarian aid

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine issues were the United Nations’ unfished agenda, stressing upon the international community to work together to resolve them peacefully in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

Addressing a joint news conference along with Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, the foreign minister said that they were grateful to Taha for undertaking his first bilateral visit to Pakistan.

Secretary General Taha has arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit.
He expressed the hope that his visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir would send a message to the world that the entire Ummah stood united with the people of IIOJK.

“It will be a stark reminder to the UN and the international community about the long-standing unfinished agenda, which required global community’s collective efforts for a peaceful resolution.”

He said Pakistan attached high priority to the OIC as it had been a collective voice of 57 Muslim countries, the second largest world’s multilateral forum, adding that Pakistan firmly supported and deeply appreciated OIC’s role in ensuring social, political and economic interests of the Ummah.

The foreign minister said that he had highlighted the human rights violations committed by India in the IIOJK, and requested the OIC to continue playing its effective role over revoking of Indian illegal and unilateral steps in IIOJK.

He said that during Council of Foreign Ministers (CFMs) meeting, the OIC member states had unanimously condemned the Indian actions, stressing for taking steps in line with the UNSC resolutions and in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir to resolve the issue peacefully.

The foreign minister said that Islamophobia was the other issue of concern which had been on the rise across the world and Pakistan had encouraged designation of the OIC special envoy to address it.

About Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal said that they had discussed the issues of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, and the outcome of the important decisions taken during the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting like setting up an Afghan humanitarian fund and functioning of a special envoy and the OIC mission.

Expressing his satisfaction, the foreign minister said a new OIC office had been opened in Kabul and appreciated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s donations for the Afghan fund.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue, Bilawal said, “Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian brothers and sisters and fully supports the OIC and global community’s efforts to resolve the issue.”

Secretary General Taha said that for more than four decades, the OIC had been helping and supporting the efforts of Pakistan for the peaceful resolution of the IIOJK issue.

During the 48th session of Council of FMs, the OIC had criticised the illegal and unilateral steps of India over Jammu and Kashmir, adding the organisation had urged India to revoke its decisions.

The secretary general reiterated support to the right of self- determination of the Kashmiri people in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

He expressed the optimism that Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine had been the long-standing issues which would be resolved one day.