The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) kicked off the 48th session of the two-day Council of Foreign Ministers’ conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, with all 57 OIC members in attendance. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was also present at the session at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The meeting focused on highlighting “Muslim world issues,” with the theme ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development.’ Diplomats discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the treatment of Rohingyas in Myanmar, the Afghan humanitarian crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the civil war in Yemen.
Jammu and Kashmir
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said that the OIC is worried that the conflict in J&K is continuing “without any signs of a solution” and reiterated the organisation’s “strong and firm” support for the people of J&K. He further added that the OIC’s support for J&K is “an expression of full solidarity” with right of Kashmiris to “self-determination.”
Addressing the meeting, the Secretary General, Mr Hissein Brahim Taha, affirmed that the conflict of Jammu & Kashmir continues without any signs of solution, noting that the #OIC has constantly reiterated, in its resolutions, its strong support for the people of Jammu & #Kashmir.
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) March 22, 2022
Noting the importance of dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to the decades-long conflict, Taha said that the organisation “will spare no effort in raising and voicing its solidarity” with Kashmiris. Furthermore, he urged the international community to assist the people of J&K, and called on human rights groups to continuously monitor “violations of human rights in the occupied Kashmir.”
Rohingyas
Taha also discussed Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority and said that “Myanmar continues to turn a blind eye to the horrific violations against the Rohingya’s rights.” He also accused Naypyidaw of failing to fulfil its international obligation to “create an environment for willful, safe, sustainable and dignified return of the Rohingya to their homeland.”
#OIC Secretary-General Affirms that #Myanmar did not Fulfill its Obligations to Create an Environment for Return of #Rohingya to their Homeland. Read more: https://t.co/fHtBeczTL6 pic.twitter.com/R5nR1jEozU
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) March 22, 2022
He stressed that the Rohingya issue “is one of the top priorities on the OIC’s agenda,” a case the organisation has been following for two decades.
Afghanistan
Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Taha said that the OIC “will pursue dialogue with de facto authorities and international partners in order to achieve peace, security and development” in the country. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister (FM), Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, called on the Taliban to ensure that “Afghan lands are not used as a haven for extremist groups and respect for human rights, including women’s right to education.”
HRH Prince Faisal bin Farhan: “We call for more efforts to help the brotherly #Afghan people and we call on Afghans to help themselves by ensuring that Afghan lands are not used as a haven for extremist groups and respect for human rights, including Women's right to #education.” pic.twitter.com/u750dpUV8x
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) March 22, 2022
The OIC’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Tarig Ali Bakheet, met with United States Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya at the sidelines of the conference to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan. “They […] stressed the need to enhance their efforts to address the daunting humanitarian and development challenges facing Afghanistan,” a statement released by the OIC said.
Palestine
The OIC also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and Taha said that “the perpetuation of the Israeli crimes and attacks against the Palestinian people, their land and their sanctities dictates the need to work in strong solidarity and joint Islamic action.”
Mr Hissein Brahim Taha stressed that the perpetuation of the Israeli crimes and attacks against the #Palestinian people, their land and their sanctities dictates the need to work in strong solidarity and joint Islamic action. #OIC48CFM #OICInPakistan pic.twitter.com/oqvoqvlZYl
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) March 22, 2022
Yemen
Saudi FM Prince Faisal said during his address that the actions of Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours constitute a “threat to the security and stability” of the Middle East. He called on the international community and OIC member states “to pressure the Houthis to cease their threats to international navigation.”
Address by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan
During his keynote address as the host of the session, PM Imran Khan declared: “We have failed both the Palestinians and the people of Kashmir. I am sad to say that we have been able to make no impact at all. They don’t take us seriously, we are a divided house and those powers know it.”
Khan also said that the world was heading in the “wrong” direction of a “Cold War,” referring to the Russia-Ukraine war. In this respect, he suggested that Muslim countries and China should join forces to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Eastern Europe. Khan said he will discuss the matter at length with Chinese FM Wang Yi.
Address by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
FM Wang Yi began his speech by noting that this was the first time a Chinese FM had attended an OIC session and said it “fully reflects the sincere desire of China and the Islamic world to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and will surely push bilateral relations to a new level.”
“China and the Islamic world have found a path of friendly coexistence and win-win cooperation among different civilizations, becoming a model of acting on a new type of international relations,” he noted. He stressed that China and OIC members should work together in “safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” and also significantly boost economic cooperation.
“China will continue to support Islamic countries in drawing on Islamic wisdom to solve current hotspot issues such as those related to Palestine, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and firmly holding the key to maintaining stability and promoting peace in their own hands.”
The OIC was founded in 1969 as a forum to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.”