FO rejects Indian remarks on OIC Kashmir resolutions, raises alarm over Delhi mosque eviction notice

Pakistan on Friday rejected what it described as “baseless and unwarranted assertions” by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), while expressing grave concern over an eviction notice issued to a historic mosque in New Delhi.

Speaking at the Foreign Office’s weekly press briefing, spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said the resolutions adopted at the 52nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad reflected the collective and longstanding position of member states on the Kashmir dispute.

He said the OIC’s position was firmly grounded in relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and that the organisation had rejected India’s unilateral measures to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The OIC had also called on the international community, including the UNSC, to take effective measures to implement the relevant resolutions, he stated. “The organisation’s continued principled support is an important reaffirmation that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains an internationally recognised dispute,” he added.

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Describing India’s portrayal of the OIC’s collective position as misleading and dismissive of legitimate international concerns, the spokesperson said New Delhi should instead fulfil its international obligations, respect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people and create conditions for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

The ambassador also expressed grave concern over what he described as “yet another” eviction notice issued to a historic mosque in New Delhi. He said the Race Course Mosque was a Waqf property and a heritage site facing the threat of demolition under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

“The measure exemplifies worsening Islamophobia in India,” he said, adding, “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take notice of incidents involving the demolition of places of worship, including those belonging to Muslims, and urges Indian authorities to desist from discriminatory measures.

Pakistan’s regional diplomatic outlook

On Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, amid renewed threats by the US president to resume hostilities, the spokesperson declined to comment, saying the question could be taken up on another occasion. He was also asked whether Pakistan was in contact with Washington and pursuing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

In his opening statement, however, the FO spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to diplomatic engagement, regional coordination and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had held separate telephone conversations with his Egyptian and Iranian counterparts on October 18 to discuss regional developments.

Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Baghdad on October 17 and 18. Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges.

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In a separate conversation, Dar and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the regional situation and condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, reaffirming solidarity with the Kingdom and support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, the spokesperson said.

The two ministers reviewed cooperation under the Regional Four framework, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, and looked forward to the next meeting to strengthen coordination on regional issues.

He also highlighted Dar’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20.

The spokesperson further outlined Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements, including Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit from October 20 to 22 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

During the visit, Muizzu met President Asif Ali Zardari and held talks with the prime minister. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people contacts.

The visit also resulted in the exchange of 20 memoranda of understanding, giving fresh impetus to cooperation across various sectors.

Khan noted that it was the first visit to Pakistan by a Maldivian president in 11 years and coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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On the European front, the spokesperson said President Zardari was on an official visit to Germany from October 22 to 24, focusing on strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation. The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Germany.

Pakistan also held bilateral political consultations with Lithuania on October 19 and Latvia on October 21. The discussions covered trade, investment, information technology, digital services, educational cooperation and the mobility of students, professionals and businesspeople.

Khan said Pakistan and the European Union held the 10th round of their bilateral counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad on October 22. Both sides reviewed regional and global developments affecting the terrorist threat landscape and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“The EU condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, expressed solidarity with affected civilians and acknowledged Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. The discussions also covered violent extremism, terrorist financing, radicalisation and the misuse of cyberspace by terrorist groups,” the spokesperson said.

Both sides expressed concern over the security implications of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and agreed to hold the next round of dialogue in Brussels in 2027.

Multilateral engagements

The spokesperson said Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia signed the Badr Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding in Doha on October 21 to strengthen cooperation in defence industries. The agreement covered manufacturing, technical training, research and development, technological innovation and industrial capacity-building.

He also said Pakistan had reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the UN Charter at a ceremony in Islamabad marking United Nations Day on October 22.

Meanwhile, Dar had arrived in Istanbul to attend a meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, the spokesperson added. The Regional Four meeting was to be followed by a gathering involving the same four countries alongside the United Kingdom, France and Germany. According to the spokesperson, it would be the first meeting of the seven countries in this format.

The meetings were expected to provide an opportunity to review regional developments, strengthen diplomatic coordination and explore ways to promote peace, security and stability, he said.

Khan reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to promoting peace and stability through dialogue, strengthening economic and institutional partnerships, and working with international partners to address shared challenges.