Emergency meeting of OIC Kashmir-focused wing summoned today

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Kashmir-focused wing has been summoned on Tuesday (Today) after India abolished special status of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir (IHK). It is pertinent to mention here that the emergency meeting of OIC Contact Group has been summoned on Kashmir after Indian government rushed through a presidential decree earlier to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution which granted special status to IHK. According to the reports, the session will be attended by representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other member countries. A day earlier, India’s BJP government moved a bill in the upper house of the parliament (Rajaya Sabha) to remove Article 370 from the Indian constitution amid opposition members’ protest. It was later signed by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, stripping the state of Kashmir off its special status and turning it a Union Territory with the legislature. The Indian government on Monday rushed through a presidential decree to scrap a special status for Indian-held Jammu Kashmir, hours after imposing a major security clampdown in the region. Amit Shah has announced to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A from its constitution, which gives special status and rights to the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Following to the move, Pakistan has strongly condemned and rejected the announcements made by the Indian government regarding to abolish the special status of IHK. In a statement issued on Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said the IHK  is an internationally recognized disputed territory. He said no unilateral step by the Indian government can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. “Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.” The FO spokesperson said as the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps. Dr Faisal said Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.