What did OIC, an organization of 57 Muslim countries, say about SC’s decision on Kashmir?
The Supreme Court has upheld the Central Government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, which gives special status to Kashmir, regarding which the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an organization of 57 Islamic countries, has issued a statement. OIC has said that the Islamic organization expresses concern over the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the unilateral action of the Government of India, which has taken away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The OIC said in its statement, ‘The OIC reiterates its call to reverse all illegal and unilateral measures taken to achieve change in the internationally recognized region since 5 August 2019.’
OIC says that the organization shows its solidarity with the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The organization calls on the international community to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council.
OIC General Secretariat expresses concern over the Indian Supreme Court’s Judgment Upholding the Unilateral Actions Taken by the Indian Government on 5th August 2019 that Stripped the Special Status of the Territory of Jammu and Kashmir: https://t.co/JhVEz5BtOq pic.twitter.com/aBPEQhV2Wb
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) December 12, 2023
Pakistan has also responded
On Monday this week, the Supreme Court had justified the Modi government’s decision to remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. While hearing the petitions filed against ending the special status of the region, the court had said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Shocked by this decision of the court, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting the decision.
The statement said, ‘The dispute of Jammu and Kashmir is an international dispute, which has been on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council for seven decades. The final decision regarding Jammu and Kashmir has to be taken as per the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. India has no right to take a unilateral decision on this against the wishes of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that India cannot retreat from its international obligations in the name of domestic laws and judicial decisions and its conspiracy to annex Jammu and Kashmir will definitely fail.
In 2019, when India abolished the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, there was a sharp reaction from Pakistan. Rejecting this, Pakistan broke diplomatic and trade relations with India and suspended the agreement and Thar Express running between the two countries.
