India on Tuesday condemned the visit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary general to the Pakistan-administered Kashmir and his comments on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) during his visit to Pakistan.
OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, along with a delegation, visited parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Sunday.
In a statement, Indian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Arindam Bagchi said: “We strongly condemn the visit of OIC secretary general to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and his comments on J&K during his visit to Pakistan.”
“Let me reiterate that OIC has no locus standi in matters related to J&K, which is an integral and inalienable part of India. Any attempt of interference and meddling in India’s internal affairs by OIC and its secretary general is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Stating that “OIC has already lost its credibility by taking a blatantly communal, partisan and factually incorrect approach,” the spokesman said: “Its secretary general has unfortunately become a mouthpiece of Pakistan.”
The visiting secretary general and the delegation paid respect and offered “fateha” (prayer) in "memory of people who sacrificed their lives for the Kashmir cause," a Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s statement had said after the visit.
The delegation also visited the Line of Control, a de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir valley between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India.
The delegation also met and interacted with the Kashmiri migrants and residents of the bordering areas.
Addressing a joint press conference with the President of Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the capital Islamabad, Taha had said that resolution of the long-smoldering dispute is crucial to regional peace and in the better interest of the two neighbors.
Reiterating the OIC's commitment to the resolution of the dispute, Taha also said his visit is part of efforts to sensitize the international community and the member states on the ongoing situation in the Indian-administered Kashmir.
