March 17, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429

NEW DELHI, March 16: India on Sunday rejected observations by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Dakar that Kashmir issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions, saying the grouping had no locus standi to comment on Delhi’s internal affairs.

India’s foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said India “regrets” that OIC has “once again chosen to comment on Jammu and Kashmir and issues internal to India,” Press Trust of India said. Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had attended the OIC summit as a special invitee.

The 57-nation body, in the final communique adopted at the summit in Senegal, had suggested that the Kashmir dispute be resolved in accordance with “relevant UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people”.

The meeting also extended the Islamic world’s support for the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to the OIC document, Mr Sarna said: “The OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs including Jammu & Kashmir which is an integral part of India. We strongly reject all such comments.”

The OIC, at its meetings, used to regularly comment on Kashmir issue but for the last few years it had been silent on the matter.

India and Pakistan are committed to resolving the dispute through bilateral talks. Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon is due to visit Islamabad next month to conclude a stalled fourth round of their Composite Dialogue and start a fifth round.

The dialogue, among other matters, is required to discuss the Kashmir issue.