PM urges Muslim nations to act as neutral bloc

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the Muslim nations to stay out of the "bloc politics" between the West and Russia, but at the same time act as a neutral bloc to help resolve international conflicts.

He made the plea in his keynote address to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign minister summit being held in Islamabad. The prime minister also admitted that Muslim nations have failed both Kashmiris and Palestinians.

He called for combating Islamophobia that prevails in the West. “After the nine eleven Islamophobia kept growing and the reason was, I am sorry to say, that we the Muslim countries did not do anything to check this narrative. How can religion has anything to do with terrorism. How was Islam equated with terrorism?”

Admitting that Muslim nations have “failed both the Palestinian and the people of Kashmir,” he said that  “I am sad to say that we have been able to make no impact at all. [The western countries] don’t take us seriously. We are a divided house and those powers know it. We are 1.5 billion people and yet our voice to stop this blatant injustice insignificant.

He said the OIC nations were not talking about conquering some countries. “We are simply talking about the human rights of people of Kashmir and Palestine.”

Imran Khan said that India is changing the Muslim majority in Kashmir into a minority.

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, the prime minister said that Muslim countries and other nations which were “non-partisan” could play a role to end the conflict.

He said that the world is heading toward “bloc politics” which is a worrisome development and, in this situation, “it is extremely important that we get united and on certain core issues take a stance and let’s not be dragged into … blocs…. We should stay as a bloc and show our power in bringing about peace rather than becoming part of some conflict.”

The two-day 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is being held at the Parliament House from March 22 to March 23.

Saudi Foreign Minister calls for Kashmir solution

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, in his address to the OIC foreign ministers summit in Islamabad, called for a just and fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Bin Farhan also called for the resolution of the Palestine issue. Saudi Arabia supports the role of Islamic countries for the peace in Afghanistan, he said emphasizing that Afghan soil should not be used as a launchpad for terrorism.

The Saudi foreign minister said that steps must be taken to end the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Discussing the Yemen conflict, to which Saudi Arabia is a party, the foreign minister said that growing violence by the Houthi rebels was undermining the peace efforts. Saudi Arabia is trying to stop the foreign military aid to Houthis, but it supports the efforts to provide humanitarian aid for the country, he said.

OIC secretary-general calls out India for revoking Article 307

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha has also called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute according got the UN resolutions.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed region, contrary to the claims by New Delhi which calls it an integral part of India.

He also said that India's move to revoke Article 307 of its constitution to end the autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir was in violation of international laws.

The OIC secretary-general called for the cessation of hostilities in Yemen and told the conference that talks would be held in Saudi Arabia on the issue later this month.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it was time for the Muslim Ummah to forge a collective response to the current turmoil inside its borders and the ongoing global transition.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the theme of the conference is "Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development." 

Foreign ministers and high-level delegations from 57 Muslim countries are attending the summit.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also at the summit as a Special Guest. Senior officials from non-OIC countries and representatives from the United Nations, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council are also participating. 

The dignitaries will also attend the March 23 Pakistan Day Parade as Guests of Honour. 

The meeting discusses a number of issues like combatting Islamophobia, strategies to counter the effects of climate change, vaccine inequality and progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. 

The summit will discuss and adopt more than 100 resolutions on a number of issues, including peace and security, economic development and humanitarian issues.