The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has resolved to promote and protect the common interests of member countries and support the just causes of Palestine, Kashmir and others.
It was articulated in Islamabad Declaration adopted at the conclusion of the two-day 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on Wednesday evening.
The OIC countries through the declaration resolved to unify efforts to address common challenges and leverage opportunities, besides upholding the rights and interests of Muslim minorities in non-OIC countries.
The declaration vowed to pursue a shared vision for greater social, economic, scientific and technological development and integration within the Muslim world and beyond.
It reaffirmed the collective desire to promote harmony, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, better standards of life, human dignity and understanding among all people.
It also proposed convening a ministerial meeting, later this year or next, to evolve solutions; develop mechanisms and tools to prevent conflicts; and promote peace.
The declaration welcomed the operationalisation of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF). It welcomed the unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly to proclaim 15 March as International Day to Combat Islamophobia as well as the CFM’s decision to appoint a special envoy in this regard.
The declaration rejected terrorism in all forms and manifestations and attempts to link this evil to any country, religion, nationality, race or civilisation.
It reiterated the OIC’s strong position against attempts to equate the legitimate struggle of people for self-determination with terrorism.
The declaration also articulated views on the devastating social and economic impacts of Covid-19 as well as climate change on developing countries. It called for a series of concrete actions on vaccine equity, debt relief, countering of illicit financial flows and fulfilment of climate financing commitments as well as technology transfer and capacity building.
It acknowledged the growing role of innovation and emerging technologies in stimulating growth and digital transformation and expressed shared resolve to promote linkages and partnerships.
Addressing a joint news conference along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha on the conclusion of the two-day OIC meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the meeting agreed upon a total of 140 resolutions.
He said 20 of the resolutions were sponsored or co-sponsored by Pakistan.
Qureshi said the OIC also adopted a resolution on threats to peace and security in South Asia. He thanked the OIC member states for sharing Pakistan’s concerns on the matter. Speaking on the occasion, Hissein Brahim Taha said the OIC-CFM reiterated its support to the longstanding issues of Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir.
