New York, Sep 22: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. OIC also said its member states would provide scholarships to the Kashmiri students for higher education.
Speaking at a meeting of the OIC Ministerial Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir in New York Wednesday, OIC general secretary, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated the organisation’s full support to the people Jammu and Kashmir and expressed solidarity with them.
“I seize the opportunity of this meeting to reiterate our solidarity with the Kashmiri people and reaffirm our strong support for the struggle they wage to gain their legitimate rights,” he said.
The secretary general said that these meetings reflect the importance which the OIC attaches to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and that the OIC has consistently and constantly strived hard to mobilize greater support and firmer solidarity for the struggle of the Kashmiri people.
“As on the previous occasions, we continue to reaffirm our strong and principled position that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has one inevitable path to ride, which is the path of negotiations towards a peaceful solution of this long-lasting conflict. A peaceful settlement of the dispute would certainly serve the people of both India and Pakistan and the overall interests of South Asia as well. We are therefore hopeful for constructive and successful bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan through which a final solution aiming at respecting the will and rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir could be achieved,” he said.
He said OIC intends to attract more international support and solidarity for the people of Kashmir. “We have recently established a new setting of interaction with the European Parliament on Kashmir and hope to continue till achieving good results,” he said and added that OIC Member States and its related institutions have been asked to take practical steps in providing university scholarships for the Kashmiri students.
Other members of the Contact Group also reiterated their continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a statement issued by OIC said.
The meeting was attended by the representatives from Saudi Arabian, Turkey, Pakistan and Niger.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogl and representatives of Saudi Arabia and Niger also called for a peaceful settlement of the decades-old Kashmir dispute through the dialogue with India.

KASHMIRIS’ STRUGGLE GAINED NEW MOMENTUM: HINA
Speaking at the meeting, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination has gained “new momentum” that deserves full support of the international community and the Muslim Ummah (community).
“It is our moral obligation and collective responsibility to support the Kashmiri people in their just cause,” the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Khar, as saying at the meeting.
Khar said that New Delhi has to accept Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory and ensure that there were no further killings. She also demanded that those responsible for the 2,156 mass unmarked graves be brought to justice.
Khar also called for the release of political prisoners and convict those responsible for torture, brutalities and murders.
She said Pakistan is committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
“Pakistan is convinced that the key to enduring peace, security and stability in South Asia lies in resolving the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan has demonstrated seriousness of purpose and sincerity in seeking the resumption of dialogue process with India,” Khar was quoted, as saying.

RESOLVING KASHMIR ISSUE CRUCIAL FOR PEACE: MULLEN
PTI Adds from Washington: The path to long-term peace in South Asia lies in resolving the Kashmir issue and America has held discussions in this regard with leaders in both India and Pakistan, a top Pentagon official said.
“I have said a couple years ago, and I believe today, solving Kashmir unlocks the whole place, that’s the path for long-term solutions,” Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in response to a question at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank.
“Very difficult issue; that isn’t going to go away, it isn’t going to get better over time. And I have had those discussions, actually with both Pakistani leadership as well as Indian leadership. I said earlier this isn’t just about Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s a regional issue, and that includes India and other neighbours. But certainly in India - and I know that has been for a significant period of time - an existential threat with respect to Pakistan. It remains today,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST