India asks OIC not to provide platform to anti-India elements

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 8

India has asked the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to correct some of the perceptions about India as well as be careful that its platform is not hijacked for comments on its internal affairs.

The OIC in turn wanted India to allow a delegation to visit the disputed territory in line with relevant resolutions of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The rare meeting between OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen and India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ausif Sayeed took place on July 5 at the former’s initiative, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at the media briefing on Thursday.

Among the wide range of issues discussed was India’s bugbear of the OIC issuing frequent statements on the situation in Kashmir, often at the prodding of Pakistan.

“The ambassador spoke about the need to correct some misperceptions about India perpetrated by vested interests. It should also be careful that the platform is not subverted for comments on India’s internal affairs,” informed Bagchi.

The OIC Secretary General had received Sayeed in his office in Jeddah where he was paying a courtesy visit.

Dr Yusuf welcomed and reviewed with Dr Sayeed a number of issues concerning the situation of Muslims in India, along with the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and relevant UN and OIC resolutions opposing any unilateral actions on the issue.

“He conveyed the desire of the OIC General Secretariat to dispatch a delegation to the disputed territory in line with relevant resolutions of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. The Secretary General also asked about the possibility of a meeting between Pakistan and India, stating that the General Secretariat stands ready to assist if the two parties would so request,” stated a OIC news release.