Ahlul Bayt News Agency ; Foreign Ministers of Islamic countries Friday voiced concern over the "indiscriminate" use of force by Indian security forces against unarmed civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir, and urged the international community to help settle the Indo-Pakistan dispute.
A communique adopted at the ministerial-level meeting of member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) called for "full respect" for the Kashmiri people's human rights and for providing relief and comfort to them.
Dealing with the long-standing Kashmir dispute, the communique said, "The Meeting reaffirmed its principled support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
"It emphasized the need for full respect of human rights as well as importance of taking all requisite steps to provide relief and comfort to the Kashmiris. It further called upon India to allow international human rights groups and humanitarian organizations to visit Jammu and Kashmir".
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the Kashmir issue at the day-long OIC annual coordination meeting, focusing on the recent events that have seen more than 100 Kashmiri civilians demanding an end to New Delhi's rule gunned down by Indian security forces.
"The Meeting expressed concern at the recent and ongoing indiscriminate use of force and gross violations of human rights committed in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) by Indian security forces which have resulted in killing scores of innocent and unarmed civilians as well as injuries to hundreds of others including women, children and elderly.
"The Meeting commended the efforts of Pakistan and its readiness to engage with India to resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir dispute and urged the international community to play its due role to settle this long standing dispute on UN agenda for the overall improvement of the relations between Pakistan and India as well as to promote regional peace and stability."
Apart from Kashmir, the meeting discussed many other issues of concern to the Islamic world.
The meeting adopted the following positions on some of key topics:
* Condemned Israel's continued imposition of collective punishment upon the Palestinian people, including in particular the illegal blockade against the Gaza Strip, which has gravely impacted humanitarian conditions.
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