Islamabad, 25 March 2022 (TDI): Foreign Secretary Pakistan, Sohail Mahmood, met the Heads of OIC Missions in Islamabad on Friday to thank them for making the 48th Session of the OIC CFM a success. The outcomes of the session were also evaluated during the meeting.
He praised the OIC Ambassadors for their contribution in facilitating high-level participation in the CFM. He explained that this was especially important because the 48th Session fell on the 75th Anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence. He added that this sentiment of abiding goodwill and amity towards the people of Pakistan was also reflected in the resolution adopted by the CFM, commemorating the 75thAnniversary of Pakistan’s independence.
The resolution on “Peace and Security in South Asia”:
The Foreign Secretary welcomed the adoption of the resolution on “Peace and Security in South Asia,” emphasizing that the text represented the OIC’s keen interest in maintaining peace and security in the region. He stated that the OIC’s request for a joint investigation into the incident of a supersonic missile launched into Pakistani territory by India on March 9, 2022, was a strong example of the OIC’s stance.
The appointment of the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Islamophobia:
The Foreign Secretary emphasized that the CFM’s over 140 resolutions on peace and security, economic cooperation, Muslim minorities’ rights, and countering Islamophobia defined the OIC’s position on many problems affecting the Ummah. According to the Foreign Secretary, the appointment of the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Islamophobia, as approved during the 48th CFM, is expected to assist the OIC’s efforts to foster dialogue and interfaith harmony.
The support on Kashmir conflict:
He further remarked that the OIC’s clear position on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, as repeated in remarks by the Secretary-General and the Member States, was a source of consolation and strength for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination. The Secretary-General’s report, the Contact Group’s Joint Communiqué, and the CFM resolution on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict backed this view.
The efforts to support Afghanistan:
The operationalization of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund and the signing of the Fund’s Charter in Islamabad on March 21, 2022, marked a significant step in the OIC’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan, said the Foreign Secretary while commending the Islamic Development Bank for its role. He emphasized the need for specific contributions to the Fund from the Member States and the international community to provide long-term and sustainable support to the Afghan people.
Pakistan’s proactive role within the OIC to foster connections of solidarity amongst the Member States was reaffirmed with the successful hosting of the 48th Session of the CFM. This will also act as a guiding principle of Pakistan’s Chairmanship of the CFM, which has the theme “Partnering for Unity, Justice, and Development” as its emphasis.
