Conflict resolution workshop: OIC reiterates commitment to just cause of Kashmiri people

ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has reaffirmed its steadfast support for the just cause of the Kashmiri people. Ambassador Yousef Aldoubeay, the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General on Jammu and Kashmir, reiterated this commitment during his visit to Pakistan on Monday. He is attending a ‘Conflict Resolution Workshop’, organised by the India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Youth Forum for Kashmir (YFK).

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Aldoubeay assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the OIC remains firmly committed to their right to self-determination. He stated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is among the oldest unresolved issues on the agendas of both the United Nations and the OIC. He stated that not only the OIC as an organisation but every individual member state extends unequivocal support to the Kashmiri people. Aldoubeay also informed participants that a comprehensive report on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir would be presented at the upcoming meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers. The envoy noted that his current visit aimed to better understand the evolving dynamics of the Kashmir dispute, particularly in light of India’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019. He said his visit to Muzaffarabad and interactions with local residents and officials were deeply insightful and helpful in assessing the on-ground situation.

Other prominent speakers at the event included Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) AJK chapter, and Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR). Former Foreign Secretary and Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, stated that Pakistan deeply values the OIC’s consistent and unwavering support for the Kashmir cause, which remains central to the Organisation’s agenda. He noted that the OIC has unequivocally condemned India’s gross and systematic human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and has firmly supported the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. Ambassador Mahmood also acknowledged the significant role of the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), particularly its Standing Mechanism, in monitoring and documenting human rights abuses in the region. He praised the commission’s efforts in maintaining a repository of information that helps raise global awareness about the plight of the Kashmiri people. Highlighting the ongoing dire situation, he said the illegal occupation and brutal repression of Jammu and Kashmir, which began in 1947, continues unabated. He pointed out that more than five years have passed since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019-measures aimed at altering the region’s internationally recognised disputed status and changing its demographic composition. During this period, Kashmiris have endured prolonged curfews, double lockdowns, arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, internet shutdowns, suppression of human rights activists, and a crackdown on the media. India’s settler-colonial project, he warned, is systematically attempting to turn the Muslim majority into a minority within their own homeland. He also expressed concern over repeated threats by Indian ministers to forcibly annex Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), calling such statements highly provocative. Ambassador Mahmood stressed that the international community must move beyond mere conflict management and actively work toward conflict resolution. He underlined that sustainable peace in South Asia is unattainable without a just and lasting solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Dr Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Centre, highlighted the immense human and economic cost of war, particularly in the 21st century. Citing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as a stark example, he noted that Ukraine has already suffered over $180 billion in direct infrastructure losses. The country is projected to need approximately $524 billion for reconstruction. He stressed that these figures highlight the critical importance of investing in peaceful conflict resolution, rather than resorting to armed confrontation. “Wars are no longer viable options-they are economically devastating and destabilising,” Dr Abbas remarked, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic engagement and proactive peacebuilding efforts in today’s global landscape.

Ghulam Muhammad Safi expressed deep gratitude to the OIC for being the voice of the voiceless and providing a vital platform for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to advocate for their right to self-determination.

Reflecting on over seven decades of unresolved conflict, Safi held the paralysis of the United Nations, the indifference of major powers, and India’s persistent intransigence responsible for the continued suffering of the Kashmiri people. He reminded the audience that it was India that initially brought the Kashmir issue to the United Nations, expecting a favourable outcome on the basis of an alleged instrument of accession. However, the UN instead granted the people of Jammu and Kashmir the right to decide their future through a plebiscite. Safi also pointed to the use of the veto power by a major state as a key reason for the non-resolution of the dispute. He stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir seek a peaceful, durable solution grounded in UN Security Council resolutions. Altaf Hussain Wani echoed similar sentiments, calling the OIC a beacon of hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute but a matter of fundamental human rights and the right to self-determination. Wani highlighted the dual impact of religious repression and economic marginalisation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which he said exposes the hollowness of India’s narrative of integration and development. He condemned India’s imposition of systematic restrictions on Muslim religious practices-such as bans on Eid and Friday prayers-and criticised state control of Islamic institutions through legislation like the Waqf Amendment Act. In contrast, he noted that Hindu pilgrimage routes continue to receive state facilitation, describing the situation as akin to religious apartheid. Wani also challenged India’s claims of development following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. He cited economic data indicating that the region lost $5.3 billion in the first nine months post-abrogation and that the Indian government subsequently reduced budget allocations for the region. The unemployment rate, he noted, rose from 16.29pc in 2019 to 28.2pc in 2024, while siege and search operations continue unabated in the territory. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors at the ISSI, rejected Indian assertions that UN resolutions on Kashmir are outdated. He affirmed that the resolutions remain valid, as also reiterated by the UN Secretary General. Zaman Bajwa, Executive Director of the Youth Forum for Kashmir, applauded the enthusiasm of young participants in the fellowship programme and encouraged them to use the opportunity to promote the Kashmir cause through academic research, writing, and advocacy.