OIC - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: India
hits out at Organization of Islamic Cooperation chief for visit to LoC from
Pakistani side
What's in the news?
● India
on December 13, 2022, strongly condemned the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) saying the outfit has “lost its credibility”.
● The
comment from the Ministry of External Affairs came after the Secretary-General
of the OIC Hissein Brahim Taha visited the Line of Control from the Pakistani
side and was briefed by the situation by the Pakistan military.
● Mr.
Taha also offered prayers and met the people who were allegedly affected by
shelling from the Indian side.
Key takeaways:
● “Let
me reiterate that OIC has no locus standi in matters related to J&K, which
is an integral and inalienable part of India. Any attempt of interference and
meddling in India’s internal affairs by OIC and its Secretary General is
completely unacceptable,” Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response
to the visit of Mr Taha.
OIC:
● The
OIC is an international organization founded
in 1969.
● Members:
It consists of 57 member states
including Iran and Pakistan.
● The
Central African Republic, Russia, Thailand, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the
unrecognized Turkish Cypriot “state” have Observer
status.
● Administrative Centre (headquarters): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Objective:
● Raise
the collective voice of the Muslim world.
● Collectively
work to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit
of promoting international peace and harmony.
● OIC
has permanent delegations to the United
Nations and the European Union.
● It
is the second largest Inter-Governmental
Organization after the UN.
Issues with India:
● In
this organization, India is a blocked country, though it has about 12% of the
world’s Muslim population. India has been blocked by Pakistan from joining the
OIC over the Kashmir issue.
● OIC
regards parts of Kashmir as “occupied by India”.
Positive signs with India:
● In
2019, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), invited then
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to address the Inaugural Plenary of the 46th Session of the OIC Council of
Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi as the “Guest
of Honour”.
● Importantly,
Pakistan’s position in the OIC aside, New Delhi is hardly friendless in the
organisation. India has excellent relations individually with almost all member
nations and this is a reason why it can mostly afford to not take the
statements issued by the group as a whole seriously.