Date:17/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031759960100.htm

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New Delhi rejects OIC comments

Sandeep Dikshit

‘Jammu & Kashmir is integral part of India’

Kashmir termed a burning political dispute
Customary for OIC to make references to the State

NEW DELHI: India has rejected the comments on Jammu and Kashmir in the final document of the recent Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) summit at Dakar,Senegal, saying the forum has no locus standi in matters concerning its internal affairs.

The Secretary General of the 57-member organisation, Ekmeleddin Ibsanoglu, described Kashmir as a pressing and burning political dispute.

Noting with “regret” the reference to Kashmir in the document that followed the summit on March 13 and 14, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said, “the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning our internal affairs, including Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. We strongly reject all such comments. It is customary for the OIC to make such references to the State.”

India also took exception to the OIC’s “concern” over the “alarming increase in indiscriminate use of force and gross violation of human rights committed against innocent Kashmiris” and regret that India was not allowing a fact- finding mission to visit the State.

The OIC’s observations come at a time when violence is at a lower level than five years ago and the State it is gearing for Assembly polls.

India is also displeased with a resolution that said New Delhi was “maligning” the “legitimate” Kashmiri freedom struggle by “denigrating” it as terrorism.

A resolution at the summit, however, welcomed the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan as also the opening of the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

It also welcomed the fact that leaders of both countries agreed to build on convergences and narrow down the divergences in the joint search for mutually acceptable options for a negotiated peaceful settlement of issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, in a sincere and purposeful manner.

The MEA also has reasons to believe that the resolution is lopsided as it showered encomiums on Pakistan for moving towards a peaceful settlement while remaining silent on India’s contribution to several joint initiatives.

Corrections and clarifications