OIC contact group on Kashmir meets

Published March 24, 2004

ISLAMABAD, March 23: The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir comprising Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, Niger and a representative of the OIC secretary general met under the chairmanship of Iran during the 60th Session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on Tuesday.

The representative of Sudan also attended the meeting as the Contact Group reaffirmed the Muslim worlds' support to the Kashmiris struggle for the right to self-determination.

The group expressed appreciation for Pakistan for its unilateral ceasefire along the Line of Control that has been subsequently observed by both parties. The group also welcomed the appointment of the Special Representative of the OIC Secretary General on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and urged him to continue his endeavours to visit Indian-held Kashmir.

The group called for an immediate end to the gross and consistent violations of human rights and called for grant of access to international human rights bodies.

The group rejected any attempt to denigrate the Kashmiri people's valiant struggle for self-determination as terrorism and recognized that elections in Jammu and Kashmir were no substitute to the UN-administered plebiscite for enabling the people of Jammu and Kashmir to realize their just right.

The contact group welcomed the January 6 joint statement between Pakistan and India which chalks out a roadmap for composite dialogue on all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and expressed the hope that the Pakistan-India composite talks would pave the way for a just settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the legitimate aspiration of the Kashmiri people and their inalienable right to self- determination as granted in the United Nations Security Council resolutions. -APP

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...