SECRETARY-General of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has said that Kashmir is on the top priority of the OIC’s agenda and he will submit a comprehensive assessment report on the human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir to the member states.
He held out this assurance during a news conference after visiting the Line of Control (LoC) and refugee camps.
In another symbol of solidarity with Kashmiri people, Mr.Hissein, during his day-long visit to AJK, also met with people affected by Indian firing along the LoC and refugees migrated from the Indian side of Kashmir due to atrocities to assess their problems and sufferings in order to make them part of his assessment report.
The wholehearted support of the OIC to the cause of Kashmiri people has always been a source of satisfaction and encouragement not only for Kashmiris struggling for their right to self-determination but also for Pakistan, which wants just settlement of the lingering dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
The OIC, which also has its vocal Contact Group on Kashmir, has a forthright position on the issue, and wants its prompt and peaceful settlement as per UN charter, relevant UNSC and OIC resolutions and international law.
It is also a strong proponent of protection and promotion of all basic human rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people against India’s state terrorism.
The visit of the OIC Secretary-General to the Line of Control as part of the preparation of an assessment report on human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir, which would be submitted to the member countries and OIC Foreign Ministers Council, would go a long way in highlighting the just cause of the Kashmiri people and the worst kind of atrocities being committed by Indian occupation forces against those whose only crime is to seek their birth right of self-determination.
To make the report more meaningful and comprehensive, it plans to seek permission from India to visit Occupied Kashmir as well.
There are slim chances that New Delhi would allow any fact-finding mission to the occupied territory as its forces are engaged in massive human rights violations and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiris but the move would expose the real designs of India.
In case India persists with its policy of black-out in occupied Kashmir, the OIC has the option of recording eye-witness accounts of the Kashmiri leadership, academia, analysts and journalists.
We hope the report would be finalized at the earliest and distributed widely throughout the globe as part of the efforts to sensitize the world public opinion on expeditious peaceful resolution of the longstanding conflict.
