Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ayad Ameen Madani has urged the international community to be more vocal on the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir, a media report said today.
He stated this at a joint presser with Pakistan’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad today.
“The OIC Secretary General said situation in the valley is not an internal issue of India and greater effort should be made for exposing human rights violations there. Madani renewed the OIC’s support for the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the UN Security Council Resolutions,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Madani expressed the confidence that at some point in time, there will be forward movement towards the holding of referendum in the Valley.
Referring to the global concerns on the situation in Kashmir, the OIC secretary general hoped that comprehensive dialogue will resume between Pakistan and India soon to address the outstanding disputes, he said.
He appreciated Pakistan’s willingness to address the lingering Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions, the radio report said.
“He said those involved in human rights violations in the valley should be identified and given strict punishment,” it said.
In his remarks, the report said, Aziz lauded the consistent support of Organization of Islamic Cooperation for the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people.
“Deploring the lethal use of force and extra judicial killings of defenseless Kashmiri people, the adviser said weeks of violence there has left at least eighty Kashmiri people killed and thousands others injured,” it said.
Aziz welcomed the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s statement offering his good offices on Kashmir dispute.
“The UN Secretary General has stressed the need for talks between Pakistan and India and hoped India will respond on the matter in a positive manner.
“Pakistan is one of the founding members of the OIC and always contributed towards promoting fraternity and cementing strong bonds amongst the Muslim Ummah,” Aziz said.