In a press brief, Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has called OIC’s ( Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) invite to the Hurriyat ‘a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial Integrity’.
The OIC is to hold its 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Islamabad on March 22-23,2022. According to its media release, the group has set an agenda for discussion on Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, they have invited Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Omar Farooq to the session.
Targeting Pakistan, MEA called upon the OIC members “to refrain from allowing vested interests to exploit its platform for comments on India’s internal affairs.” further called on the OIC to not encourage actors and organisations engaged in terrorism and anti-India activities.
Pakistan’s failed attempt to bring Muslim Ummah on Kashmir issue
There has been a desperate attempt by Pakistan to bring the Muslim brotherhood together on the Kashmir issue. The invite to Hurriyat is way forward in the direction as the session is going to happen in Islamabad.
In the 46th session of OIC at Abu Dhabi, Sushma Swaraj was invited as a guest of honour, was protested by Pakistan. This ultimately lead to a boycott of the session by the Pakistani foreign minister.
Since then, there has been ever growing frustration in Islamabad, that the OIC as a group has always been at the forefront of criticizing India on the Kashmir issue. But, at the individual level, they have always maintained that “the bilateral ties with India are independent of their stance on J&K.”
India’s double edge sword diplomacy
Balancing relationships with Muslim countries and maintaining peace in Kashmir has been a tough task for India. Recent India – UAE trade agreement to increase the bilateral trade to USD 100 billion and the growing energy partnership between Indian energy giant Reliance and Saudi Aramco reflect Indian cooperation with OIC members on a different field.
The division in the Muslim countries on the issue of leadership of Islam has helped India to maintain the balance with these countries. The two factions, one led by Turkey and another by Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s alignment with the Turkey faction helped her to have some sympathy for Turkey and Malaysia on the Kashmir issue. But, this alignment also led Pakistan to face the wrath of the Arab world.
Meddling in India’s internal affairs
In the name of “Muslim Ummah”, the OIC has always tried to raise the Kashmir issue on its platform. Their attempt in meddling in India’s internal matter has brought this time a strong objection from India. India has lectured the OIC to focus on the important development activities of Muslims rather than let itself be guided by a single member’s agenda.
However, not much substantive outcome is going to happen on this invite but India’s reaction has given a strong signal that there will be repercussions on the bilateral relationship with the OIC members when anyone tries to meddle in our internal matters.
