ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed Contact Group of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on humanitarian and human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He was participating in meeting of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on sidelines of 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Chaired by OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Niger and Azerbaijan and true representative of Kashmiris and OIC's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC).

He explained that situation in IIOJK had deteriorated with India's illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 and subsequent attempts at demographic changes in occupied territory. By issuing millions of fake domiciles to non-Kashmiris and enacting laws that allow non-residents to buy and own land in IIOJK, India was trying to convert Kashmiris into disempowered minority in their own land. These steps were in flagrant violation of international law especially Fourth Geneva Convention which interdicted an occupying power from taking such measures.

Contact Group expressed alarm at situation in IIOJK and adopted Joint Communique reaffirming OIC's position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute and reiterating its firm rejection of India's unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019.

It requested OIC Secretary General and Member States to raise their voices for just cause of Kashmir at international fora and hold India accountable for its oppression of Kashmiri people. Contact Group also called upon India for immediate cessation of human rights violations in IIOJK and taking steps for resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 18 2023

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