India rejects OIC references on Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) India today dismissed references to Jammu and Kashmir by the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) as attempts to interfere in its internal affairs and asserted that the OIC had no locus standi.

The External Affairs Ministry expressed regret that the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers had once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration adopted by the ICFM.

A statement issued by the Ministry said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs.

It rejected all such references and resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

''We note with regret that the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers has once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir in the Islamabad Declaration adopted by the ICFM.'' ''Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs. We reject all such references/resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,'' the statement said.

OIC Secretary General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had on Tuesday at the 34th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers reaffirmed OIC's commitment to implementing the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir as well as expediting the search for a final solution.

He had said the organisation was defending the major causes of the Muslim world, be it in Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Somalia or elsewhere.

UNI