Israel’s approval of new West Bank settlements has drawn strong reactions globally, with the EU and OIC warning the move could deepen tensions and weaken chances of a negotiated peace.
India on Monday rejected the “unwarranted and factually incorrect” references to India at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) council of foreign ministers’ meeting, asking it to stay away from its internal matters.
In a statement, the General Secretariat of the 57-member body of Islamic nations stressed the need to resolve differences through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter to safeguard peace, security and stability in South Asia.
The OIC is ignored largely because it remains selective in its comments, ignoring genuine areas of concern for Islamic nations while covering regions impacting nations hosting or attempting to influence the summit. Most OIC members are struggling for survival, ignored by the few powerful oil-rich states.
"The Government of India takes a very serious view of the invitation extended to the Hurriyat. The motive of such actions is to destroy India's unity and sovereignty," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
Earlier this month, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made history by becoming the first Indian invitee to an OIC summit.
"For so many decades India has deliberately chosen to avoid attending the OIC. But the Modi government not just gave it legitimacy by attending but in turn got India labelled a terrorist country and an occupier in Kashmir," said the former Union Minister.
Her remark delivered in her opening address to the OIC, an influential grouping of 57 Islamic countries of which India is neither a member nor an observer, was apparently directed at Pakistan.
In a significant development in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has for the first time invited India as the ‘guest of honour’.
In a significant development in the wake of the Pulwama attack, the OIC has for the first time invited India as the ‘guest of honour’ to the 46th session of its Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Abu Dhabi on 1-2 March.
