Ashfaq Wani
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi last week made a statement on a private TV channel, ARY News, about the role Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over Kashmir issue, which was later censored by the channel.
Although it is not uncommon in Pakistan to censor or ban the interviews of political leaders, this is the first time that an interview given by the country’s foreign minister has been removed from an online platform.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, speaking on ARY News program “Off The Record” on Wednesday (05 August), said he wants to tell the OIC once again that Pakistan expects the organization to convene a foreign ministers meeting on Kashmir issue.
“If the OIC cannot convene a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, I will have to ask the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of the Muslim countries that are with us on the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi made this extraordinary statement on the ‘first anniversary’ of the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Kashif Abbasi, the host of the ARY’s “Off The Record” talk show; said to Shah Mehmood Qureshi that he had talked a lot about the attitude of OIC and Arab countries. In reply, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he was well aware that he had said something very big and extraordinary and his statement would cause a stir in the Foreign Office as well.
Foreign Office Position
Ayesha Farooqi, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson, said that the people of Pakistan have high expectations and hopes from the OIC due to Pak’s long-standing relationship with the organization and its member countries.
According to Pak media reports, she said that the statement of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was an expression of the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
It may be recalled that Pakistan has been demanding a meeting of OIC foreign ministers since India changed the constitutional status of Jammu & Kashmir last year.
The OIC is an organization of 57 Muslim-majority countries aimed at resolving the mutual problems of the Muslim Ummah and enhancing cooperation.
‘Disappointed By Arab Countries’
Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says the OIC should have played an active role about Kashmir dispute. But the role of the OIC was nowhere seen and no voice was raised or heard.
Former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan says that the Pakistani officials and people are very disappointed with the Arab countries over the Kashmir issue because Pakistan has made many sacrifices for the Arab countries and have protected Arabs on many occasions.
According to Shamshad Ahmad Khan, the Kashmir issue is linked to Pakistan’s integrity and the Indian Prime Minister is threatening Pakistan every day. In this case, Pakistan needs the support of friendly countries.
‘Can’t Remain Silent On Kashmir’
Despite repeated requests and insistence from Pakistan, OIC has played no major role in addressing the issue of Jammu & Kashmir at the international platform.
Addressing a function in Malaysia in February this year, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had said, “The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is not steady and static on the Kashmir dispute. We are divided and there is no OIC meeting on Kashmir yet.”
“We will never abandon the Kashmiris and will continue to support their legitimate freedom struggle. Their cause is our cause”. This is what Prime Minister Imran Khan told the Kashmiris in his 14 August, 2019 address at the POK Assembly.
Former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan in an interview with Pakistan Politico has said, “As one of the oldest unresolved international conflicts, Kashmir today is a somber reminder to the world that it cannot continue to ignore the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Unfortunately, the United Nations has washed its hands off in Kashmir by signaling to India “it’s your problem.” Imran Khan has now woken up the world. He has placed Kashmir high on the global radar screen. For now, at least, the world knows what exactly is happening in Kashmir.”
Analysts say Saudi Arabia has been reluctant to convene a meeting of OIC foreign ministers.
During the Saudi Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan in December last year, it was agreed to convene an OIC meeting in Islamabad on the Kashmir issue agenda.
Despite the set plans of the OIC meeting over the Kashmir issue, Shah Mehmood Qureshi says that Pakistan did not attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit due to Saudi Arabia’s concerns and now the Pakistani people are demanding Riyadh to show its leadership skills on the Kashmir issue.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has also said that whether the friendly countries support it or not, Pakistan will pursue its strategy on the Kashmir issue.
It may be recalled that in December last year, the Kuala Lumpur Summit was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur under the chairmanship of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, which Pakistan did not attend despite accepting the invitation.
‘New Islamic-Countries Block’
Former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan says that the voice and role of OIC in the world has disappeared and it has become the voice of only one country which is not doing justice to Pakistan.
According to Pakistani media, he is reported to have said that “there is an urgent need for a new alliance of Muslim countries that could co-operate in defense, economic and technological matters and have an effective voice in the world.”
According to Shamshad Ahmad Khan, “Pakistan is a state that came into being in the name of Islam, so it is our duty to form an alliance of countries that really want a solution to the problems faced by the Muslim Ummah.”
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said that it was important to discuss the issues of the Muslim world on the OIC platform. But if the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is not in the best interest, then Pakistan cannot remain silent on the Kashmir issue.
Former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan has said that if Saudi Arabia can establish relations with Israel, which is a surprise for the Muslim world, then Pakistan should also reconsider its foreign policy.
He questioned that Pakistan has the strength and determination to defend its integrity. But where do the friendly countries that we have done so much to protect their integrity stand with Islamabad today?
Meanwhile, as per media reports, Pakistan has already returned 1 billion dollars to Saudi Arabia besides Riyadh putting a hold on its commitment of oil exports worth one more billion-dollar on deferred payment. After Imran Khan took over, the relations between Riyadh and Islamabad witnessed a steep rise with Mohammad Bin Salman, Saudi King providing a 3 billion dollars loan to the cash strapped country.
China has come to rescue of Pakistan and provided 1 billion dollars on mere 1.3 per cent interest rates since Saudi had offered the same amount on 3 per cent interest rates.
Observers believe that the ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are likely to witness further low in the coming times and China may provide financial assistance to its all-weather friend to return further 2 billion dollars to Riyadh.
