India slams OIC invite to Hurriyat Conf.

New Delhi, March 17 : India on Thursday slammed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for inviting the Hurriyat Conference for its upcoming meet in Islamabad, saying it does not expect the OIC to encourage actors engaged in terrorism and anti-India activities. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in his weekly briefing also said that it is very unfortunate that the OIC “continues to be guided by a single member’s political agenda rather than focusing on other important developmental activities” — referring to Pakistan’s obsession with the Kashmir issue. “We have seen in Indian media reports regarding invitation extended by the OIC Secretary General to, I think, the Chairman of the all-party Hurriyat Conference, to attend the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on March 22-23. “The Government of India takes a very serious view of such actions which are indirectly aimed at subverting India’s unity and violating our sovereignty and territorial integrity. “We do not expect the OIC to encourage actors engaged in terrorism and anti-India activities. It is highly unfortunate the OIC continues to be guided by a single member’s political agenda, rather than focusing on other important developmental activities. “We have repeatedly called upon the OIC to refrain from allowing vested interests from exploiting its platform for comments on India’s internal affairs.” Pakistan has invited Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to attend the upcoming OIC Foreign Ministers conference in Islamabad as a “guest of honor”. At least 48 Foreign Ministers from the 57-nation OIC have so far confirmed their participation. This is the second OIC meeting being hosted by Pakistan in three months. In December 2021, Pakistan also hosted an extraordinary session of the OIC on Afghanistan. (UNI)