Pakistan hopes OIC envoy will help on Kashmir

Pakistan welcomed the appointment of ambassador Ezzat Kamil Mufti as the OIC secretary general's special representative on Jammu and Kashmir and hoped the move would facilitate the implementation of OIC's decisions on Kashmir.

At the 33rd foreign minister's session of OIC in Baku, Azerbaijan, it harped on the need for early resolution of the Kashmir issue without which India-Pakistan relations could "deteriorate suddenly".

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri pointed out that history was witness to the fact that his country's relations with India were "prone to sudden deterioration".

OIC has over the years witnessed numerous resolutions moved by Pakistan or some of its sympathisers, condemning India's "presence" in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging human rights violations and demanding the right to self-determination for Kashmiri people.

Many of these resolutions have been moved and passed during late night sessions when the attendance is low and there is little debate of the nuances in the resolution.

However, in view of the ongoing composite dialogue, Kasuri's address was more of a report card on the progress made at the talks with India.

He complained that despite having achieved "some progress" under the composite dialogue framework and confidence building measures, outstanding issues, including Kashmir, had not been resolved, NNI news agency said.

According to The Nation newspaper, Kasuri expressed gratitude to Islamic countries that stood by Pakistan in supporting Kashmiris' right to self-determination.

He said the OIC had also welcomed Pakistan's efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue with India in a just and equitable manner. He added that Pakistan's case rested on international legitimacy and UN Security Council resolutions.

Kasuri argued that President Pervez Musharraf had shown "immense flexibility and courage" in the composite dialogue with India and Pakistan wanted a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute acceptable to the people of Kashmir and also to Pakistan and India.

The minister said Pakistan would host the OIC ministerial conference on the problems of refugees in Muslim states in cooperation with the UNHCR Nov 27-29 in Islamabad.

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