‘Malicious, false, orchestrated by Pakistan’: India rejects OIC remarks on Kashmir

India on Monday strongly rejected the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) references to Jammu and Kashmir during its foreign ministers' meeting in Baghdad, describing them as malicious, biased and false, and alleging that Pakistan had influenced the grouping's position.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the OIC had allowed itself to be misused by Pakistan to advance its agenda against India and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were integral parts of the country.

The response followed resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir adopted at the 52nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 17 and 18.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗜𝗖'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

The MEA said the OIC had no authority to interfere in matters concerning India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"As we have said in the past, the OIC has no locus standi whatsoever to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India. The Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India," the ministry said in a statement.

India accused Pakistan, a founding and influential member of the OIC, of using the organisation to promote claims against New Delhi.

The ministry maintained that the references made during the Baghdad meeting did not reflect the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

𝗠𝗘𝗔 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗿

The ministry said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed significant economic growth since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

It contrasted these developments with the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), alleging that Pakistani authorities had used violence against civilian protesters.

The MEA accused Pakistan of repression and serious human rights violations in the region, claiming that several protesters, including women and children, had been killed.

It further alleged that restrictions on media coverage had failed to conceal the reported violations.

𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀

Reiterating India's longstanding position, the MEA said the outstanding issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir related to Pakistan's control over territories claimed by India and its alleged support for cross-border terrorism.

The ministry called on Islamabad to withdraw from areas it described as being under illegal and forcible occupation and to end support for terrorist activities directed against India.

India has consistently rejected resolutions and statements by the OIC concerning Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the organisation has no role in matters relating to India's internal affairs.

The latest exchange follows the OIC's Baghdad meeting, where the grouping again raised the Kashmir issue, prompting New Delhi to challenge both the substance of the references and Pakistan's role in shaping them.