Press Release
Visit to ISSI by OIC Special Envoy Mr. Yousef Aldobeay
March 3, 2020
“Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine are at the top of OIC agenda”. This was stated by Ambassador Yousef Aldobeay , Assistance Secretary General for Political Affairs and OIC Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir at an In-House meeting at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on March 3, 2020.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. Ahmed Sareer(Director Asian Affair, Political Affairs Department), Mr. Faisal Abro (Professional Officer, Political Affairs Department), Ms. Aida Toumi (Professional Officer, Political Affairs Department), Ms. Rana Al Deghtaither (Professional Officer, Humanitarian Affairs Department), Mr. Inamullah Khan (Representative of IsDB in Pakistan). Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to OIC, Mr. Tariq Karim, Director General (EC&OIC) and Mr. Muhammad Moazzam Ali Sahito, Assistant Director (OIC) were also present at the occasion.
Expressing his concern over the gross human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir, Mr. Yousef Aldobeay said that the dispute should be solved according to the UN Security Council resolutions. He emphasised that the commitment of OIC to the cause of Jammu and Kashmir can be gauged by the fact that a special meeting was convened the very next day after India’s revocation of Article 370 and 35 A.
Earlier, the Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry appraised the delegation regarding Pakistan’s perspective of the neighbourhood and beyond. Talking about India, he said that the US policy of encouraging India as a counterweight to China has emboldened India to adopt a more assertive policy in the region. Modi’s policies which are inspired by the RSS ideology of Hindutva are creating fear in minorities, specially Muslims. Referring to continuous lockdown and communication blackout in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Director General said that Modi administration wants to change Muslim majority status of Kashmiris into a minority. Afghanistan has also suffered war and conflict for last 40 years, but now there is some good news. However, there is still a long way to go. On Iran, the Director General said that Pakistan wishes that Iran and Saudi Arabia find peaceful solution to their differences as both countries are important for Pakistan. He also appraised the delegation regarding Pakistan’s strong relations with China. Concluding the meeting, Chairman BoG ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said that the delegation’s visit is a testament of OIC’s strong commitment with the cause of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan appreciates OIC’s support to Kashmir which does not limits itself to passing resolutions, but has also created a Contact Group on Kashmir and has appointed a special envoy on Kashmir.
