The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), a grouping representing 57 Muslim countries, has “failed both the Palestinians and the people of Kashmir”, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran said on Tuesday, admitting that the group has not been able to make any “impact”. 

His remark came during the 48th OIC meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, currently being held in Islamabad to discuss the challenges faced by the Muslim world and emerging opportunities. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also taking part as a special guest in the two-day conference.

"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," Khan was quoted as saying by Dawn. He further added that Western countries don’t the grouping “seriously” because, he added, “we are a divided house and those in powers know it.” 

"We (Muslims) are 1.5 billion people and yet our voice to stop this blatant injustice is insignificant," he said, without making any reference to the widely documented rights violations of ethnic Uyghur Muslims of China. 

Referring to various UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, Khan said the internal community never ensured their rights. 

On India’s move to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “no one has pushed about it [New Delhi]because they think we are ineffective."

Significantly, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha in his speech during the conference opposed New Delhi’s actions in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as "illegal".

“We oppose the illegal actions by India on August 5, 2019, to change the internationally disputed status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. 

He further added that OIC is called upon to "redouble" its efforts to support the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including "their rights to self-determination," in conformity with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In the past also, the group has made repeated adverse references to India’s actions in Kashmir that have all been rejected by India. 

[SAM]