INDIA CRITICISES OIC OVER REMARKS ON KASHMIR

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, May 30 (Bernama) -- India has expressed dissatisfaction over the
recent stand of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on the
sensitive Kashmir issue and the playing down of terrorism on its soil.

During the 36th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in
Syria this week, the 57-member state inter-governmental organisation had passed
a resolution supporting the Kashmir cause and described the Mumbai terrorist
attacks as merely an "incident".

"We note with regret that the OIC has chosen to comment on India's internal
affairs during the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in
Syria.

"The OIC has no locus standi on India's internal affairs," said India's
Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.

OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had reaffirmed "commitment and
support to the Kashmiri freedom struggle" and the organisation urged
Indo-Pakistan dialogue to resume in order to achieve a peaceful resolution over
the Kashmir problem.


India and neighbouring Pakistan had fought two wars, in 1947 and 1965, over
the disputed Kashmir region and, since the Mumbai attack last year, relations
between both counties have strained.

"We also note with dismay that in the resolution adopted, the terrorist
attack on Mumbai in November 2008 has been referred to as a mere 'incident'.

"It is most unfortunate that the spectre of terrorism confronting the
international community, of which the attack on Mumbai by elements from Pakistan
was an extreme manifestation, is not being unambiguously addressed by the OIC.
We strongly reject such resolutions," added the statement.

Last November, in a brazen attack, terrorists killed over 170 people in
India's financial capital and injured another 300 people, mostly in posh hotels
and public places.

-- BERNAMA