India decides to ignore OIC resolution on Kashmir
India has decided to ignore the resolution on Kashmir passed by the
extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference
in Islamabad.
Indian officials are of the view that the resolution, which
condemned India and supported Pakistan's efforts on resolving the
Kashmir issue, should not be allowed to overshadow the Indo-Pak
foreign secretary-level talks which
resume after three years on Friday, March 28.
Sources said Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had already reacted
to the OIC resolution without mentioning the organisation by name. The prime
minister's statement was intended to convey the message that
India's readiness for talks should not be misconstrued as a
concession on Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said.
They said the OIC had no locus standi since it was known to be
an organisation dominated by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. ''The Saudis use
Pakistan as also the OIC in its strategic confrontation with Iran,''
the sources said, adding that in private the OIC members had
themselves asked New Delhi not to take its anti-Iindia
resolutions seriously.
Pakistan, the sources noted, had been using the OIC forum for
maligning India since the 1990 Egypt summit.
''These resolutions are not voted upon. They have no value
whatsoever in international affairs. Most countries, including
those who are members of the OIC, don't attach much significance to
these resolutions.''
Saudi Arabia, the sources said, had asked India not to take the
OIC resolutions seriously. ''We have the
best of relations with Saudi Arabia,'' they added.
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