ISTANBUL — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for strict adherence to bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), amid rising tensions in South Asia. The appeal was made in the Istanbul Declaration adopted on Sunday at the conclusion of the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
The two-day meeting, held under the theme “The OIC in a Transforming World”, saw foreign ministers from member states gather in Istanbul to address pressing regional and international issues.
In the declaration, the CFM expressed deep concern over the recent military escalation in South Asia, notably condemning what it described as India’s “unjustified strikes” last month on locations in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It called for full respect of the May 10, 2025 ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India and stressed the need for dialogue to peacefully resolve outstanding disputes.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, in line with UN Security Council and OIC resolutions, and strongly condemned human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Condemnation of Israeli Actions
The Istanbul Declaration also condemned Israeli aggression against Iran, calling for an immediate end to Israeli attacks and warning of the grave humanitarian, economic, and environmental risks posed by escalating violence. The CFM denounced Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, describing it as a systematic attempt to eliminate the Palestinian cause.
The OIC ministers urged the swift implementation of UN resolutions to end Israeli aggression, ensure a lasting ceasefire, and facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza. They called for political and financial support for the Palestinian government and demanded an end to Israel’s use of starvation as a method of genocide by blocking humanitarian aid.
The CFM further called for the urgent convening of a UN high-level conference on Palestine to advance the two-state solution, under the co-chairmanship of Saudi Arabia and France.
Call for Action on Islamophobia and Extremism
Addressing global concerns over hate speech and extremism, the OIC ministers urged the international community to combat Islamophobia, defamation of religions, and the stigmatisation of people based on faith or ethnicity. The declaration stressed that terrorism and extremism should never be linked to any religion, race, or nationality and must be condemned in all forms.
The meeting welcomed progress in the normalisation of ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as efforts to reintegrate Syria into the regional and international fold. It also voiced support for the rights of Muslim Turkish Cypriots.
The OIC ministers praised the contributions of Algeria, Somalia, and Pakistan in advancing Islamic causes during their non-permanent tenure on the UN Security Council.
