The UAE and Maldives mutually blocked a Pakistani attempt to set up an informal group of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys at the United Nations on Islamophobia, reports the Dawn.
Timely Action By Kashmir Police Averts A Possible India-Pakistan War?
According to reports, Pakistan’s permanent representative at the UN – Munir Akram accentuated the concern of Islamophobia at a recent virtual meeting of the envoys of OIC member countries at the UN. It was a routine meeting of the envoys of OIC nations, which also discussed other matters.
The Pakistan envoy especially focussed on the plight of Indian Muslims and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are, as per the report, are suffering due to policies of BJP led Indian government.
Aksai Chin Is No Doklam; Indian Army Will Pay ‘Heavy Price’ For Aggravating Border Dispute – Experts
Akram told the meeting that Islamophobia in India had become more aggressive during the Covid-19 pandemic and brought to attention the steps taken by New Delhi to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir by allowing non-Kashmiris to take up permanent residence in the ‘disputed’ region.
Akram forewarned the OIC nations against being fooled by the Indian government. He called for setting up of a group of OIC nations to plan joint actions for battling Islamophobia.
Maldivian envoy Thilmeeza Hussain, according to reports, declined “singling out of India” and said accusing New Delhi of Islamophobia would be factually incorrect and pernicious to the religious harmony in South Asia.
Pakistan ‘Furious’ With India Over Construction Of Hindu Temple At Babri Masjid Site
The UAE envoy, who was chairing the meeting also declined Islamabad’s design for an informal group on Islamophobia stating it was the mandate of the OIC foreign ministers to create such groups.
A Pakistani diplomat according to Dawn reports said that the creation of such groups was common even at the OIC level and the could be formed by the envoys. He said these groups assisted in lobbying purposes and could move resolutions collectively.
The media report quoting an unnamed source said – the UAE mission at the UN later informed Pakistani mission that the creation of the group was not permitted because of confusion on the rules for the development of such groups.
Pakistan has consistently appealed to @UN & @OIC_OCI to condemn Modi’s Hindutva supremacist ideology with relentless Islamophobia & violence/regional instability perpetuated. We also welcome @antonioguterres agreement on need to counter Islamophobia & OIC-IPHRC’s earlier censure.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 26, 2020
Pakistan will not stay silent, allowing the fascist Modi government to round up Muslims to be beaten & killed. To have their nationalities stripped, their livelihoods robbed, their demography changed and their future insecure. 3/3
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 26, 2020
We will not stand by and let another Gujarat happen. To counter rising cases of anti-Muslim violence & Islamophobia, Pakistan has been supported by the @OIC_OCI to initiate working group with the @OICatUN for collective action.
2/3https://t.co/1fc5KqdRFV— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) May 26, 2020
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday tweeted: “Pakistan has consistently appealed to @UN & @OIC_OCI to condemn Modi’s Hindutva supremacist ideology with relentless Islamophobia & violence/regional instability perpetuated.”
