By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has stressed its commitment to finding a peaceful settlement for the Jammu and Kashmir issue as per the relevant resolutions of the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the international legitimacy. "At the same time, I call on the international community to strengthen its efforts to assist the people of Kashmir to decisively practice their legitimate rights denied for decades," OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen said here on Monday.

This came during the virtual meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir against the backdrop of the situation in the Indian state. Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Niger attended the meeting.

The meeting was inaugurated by Al-Othaimeen.

The Contact Group reaffirmed the continued support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called on the United Nations chief to use his good offices to make India abide by the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) resolutions and engage in dialogue to calm the situation in the region.

The Contact Group called on India to halt security operations against the people of Jammu and Kashmir immediately, respect basic human rights, refrain from changing the demographic structure of the disputed territory and settle the conflict under the relevant UNSC's resolutions.

On the other hand, the Contact Group highly appreciated the efforts made by the OIC general secretariat through its special envoy to Jammu and Kashmir who visited the region in March.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting welcomed the efforts made by some member states to calm the situation between India and Pakistan.