By IANS,
New Delhi : India Saturday condemned the “regrettable” move by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to name a special envoy for Kashmir, saying it has no locus standi in India’s internal affairs.
“It is regrettable that the OIC has commented on India’s internal affairs. We condemn and reject this,” the external affairs ministry said here.
“Inherent in OIC’s statements and actions on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a complete inability to understand India’s position,” it said in a statement.
Asserting that “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India”, it said: “It is our firm position that the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs.”
In a step believed to be influenced by Pakistan, the OIC, which promotes Muslim solidarity in political, social and economic matters, appointed Saudi Arabian Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman as special envoy to Kashmir last week.
This is the first time the OIC, which routinely issues resolutions on Kashmir, has taken a decision of this kind.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir’s separatist All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), has welcomed the move.
“We believe the OIC appointing a special envoy on Kashmir is a significant development. We want Muslim countries to use their good offices to persuade India to work on Kashmir,” he told a ‘contact group’ of OIC in Washington.