The Ministry of External Affairs recently dismissed a proposal from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan. This occurred just months after India rejected the OIC’s criticism of its policies in Kashmir, in December 2020.
About the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The OIC is the second-largest intergovernmental organization globally, coming after the United Nations (UN). It has 57 member states and is viewed as the collective voice of the Muslim world. The organization aims to protect and uphold the interests of the Muslim world while nurturing international peace and harmony among various people worldwide. One crucial point to note is that India is not a member of the OIC, which was established following a historic summit in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, in September 1969. Its headquarters are located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Proposition by OIC
The OIC offered to organize a meeting between India and Pakistan and suggested sending a delegation to Jammu & Kashmir according to the resolutions of the OIC council of foreign ministers. Given the backdrop of India’s improved relationships with key players in West Asia and within the Islamic organization, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, Pakistan has frequently attempted to highlight the Kashmir issue at the OIC.
India’s Response to OIC
India urged the OIC to ensure that their platform is not manipulated by “vested interests” like Pakistan to interfere in India’s internal affairs or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions.
An Overview of India and OIC Relations
India’s relationship with OIC has been a topic of discussion. At the Foreign Ministers’ Summit in 2018, host Bangladesh proposed giving India Observer status considering it homes over 10% of the world’s Muslims, a proposal Pakistan opposed. Nevertheless, in 2019, India was invited to the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting as a “guest of honour,” marking its first appearance at the meeting. This invitation was perceived as a diplomatic victory for India, especially amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pulwama attack.
The Criticism by OIC on India’s Policies
The OIC has been supportive of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. It has also issued statements condemning alleged Indian “atrocities” in the state/Union Territory. In 2018, the OIC General Secretariat strongly condemned the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir. The organization has also criticized the Indian government’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Babri Masjid verdict of the Supreme Court. The OIC has also criticized the Indian government for what it terms as “growing Islamophobia” in India.
India’s Response to OIC’s Criticism
India maintains that the OIC has no standing in matters exclusively internal to India, including that of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, which is seen as an integral and inalienable part of India.
India’s Relationship with OIC Member Countries
While the relationship with the organization may be volatile, India maintains good relations with almost all individual member nations. Particularly, ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia have seen significant improvement in recent years. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (UAE) was a special chief guest at the 68th Republic Day celebrations in 2017. Two of India’s close neighbors, Bangladesh and Maldives, are members of the OIC. Indian diplomats have stated that both nations privately acknowledge the need to avoid complications concerning their bilateral ties with India on the topic of Kashmir.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024